IT has come to light that some leaders in Karagwe and Kyerwa districts in Kagera Region issue resident permits to illegal immigrants who are a security threat to the nation.

It has been determined that the officials take bribes in exchange of this nefarious favour. It would be remiss on our part not to mention here that the officials commit a felony that smells to high heaven and that the State should make them pay for their folly.

Tanzanians in these districts have grappled with the invasion of illegal immigrants for too long. Some of the aliens are armed livestock keepers who drive large herds of cattle into the districts to look for better pastures. Others are criminals, armed bandits to be more precise, who sneak into the districts under cover of darkness to commit mayhem.

They kill innocent indigenous villagers, plunder their property and flee across the boarders into neighbouring countries. Quite often they use footpaths that snake through dense forests.

These morons are often former soldiers who are adept at using military firearms. It is incredible, consequently, that upright local district leaders, who are actually not immigration officers, should cooperate with villains who do not have the welfare of Tanzanians at heart.

They accept petty bribes and end up sawing mayhem. When addressing villagers at Nyaishozi Ward in Kagera Region at the weekend, President Jakaya Kikwete was bitter that the greedy leaders had turned themselves into immigration officials. He also ordered that holders of illegal guns should surrender them to the State.

The president said that a special operation would be mounted in two weeks' time in a quest to apprehend the offending officials and illegal gun owners. Those proven guilty, the president intoned, would be prosecuted.

It is imperative to mention here that Tanzania is downright tired of grappling with the tide of illegal immigrants and bandits, some of who come into this country in search of economic prosperity. Immigration officers have virtually failed to control them.

Most of these aliens normally avoid going through the rigmarole of immigration procedures to avoid either arrests or travel costs and the mandatory fees.

In some cases the aliens collude with locals including corrupt immigration officers and police. It is a statutory imperative that all sorts of illegal immigrants must be prevented from entering Tanzanian territory. It is high time the State stemmed the rot. Tanzania is for indigenous Tanzanians. Illegal immigrants, criminals and their cronies must stay away.