The Immigration Department of Tanzania announced plans to issue national identity cards in 2009.

The stated goal is to control illegal immigrants by issuing identities to all Tanzanian citizens. The Tanzanian Immigration Department has said that 2,370 illegal immigrants were netted in the country during the first eight months of this year, with 380 fined, 151 sentenced, 219 deported, 112 pending deportation cases, and 133 set free.

See Immigration Department says IDs to be issued in 2009, IPP Media, October 6, 2007, for more information.