DRC slashes visa fee for Tanzania and Uganda by 50%
From left
to right: TTFA Chief Operations Officer
Sayiba Tambwe Patient, TTFA Executive Secretary Captain Dieudonne Dukundane,
Director General of DRC Immigration François Beya, Ambassador of DRC in
Tanzania, H. E. Jean Pierre Mutamba and Deputy DG of DRC Immigration, Jean
Claude during a meeting held in Kinshasa in September 5th, 2016.
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By Mnaku Mbani
The Government of
the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has announced the reduction of Visa fee
for Tanzanians and Ugandans from US $100 to US $50 effective November 1st,
2016.
The decision
comes just about a month after the DRC Ambassador to Tanzania his Excellency Jean-Pierre
Mutamba and the Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency (TTFA) Executive
Secretary Capt Dieudonné Dukundane, Chief Operating Officer Mr. Sayiba Tambwe
Patient held a meeting with DRC high level officials in Kinshasa on September 5th,
2016.
An official
statement issued this week by DRC’s Director General of Immigration Mr.
François Beya Kasonga, said the move was part of Visa harmonization process for
Central Corridor Member Countries (Burundi, DRC, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda).
Already Burundi,
DRC and Rwanda enjoy Visa free movement among themselves under the Economic
Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL) arrangement.
Harmonization of
Visa was also one of the agreed issues during the 7th Ordinary
Meeting of the Inter-State Council of Ministers of the TTFA held in Dar es
Salaam on August 11th, 2016.
Commenting on the
new development Capt. Dukundane hailed DRC Officials for this move that will
reduce struggles and facilitate trade within Central Corridor member countries.
He also commended the useful guidance provided by the DRC Ambassador to
Tanzania, Mr. Jean-Pierre Mutamba towards the achievements made so far
throughout this process.
Maoni
Chapisha Maoni