Watanzania wanaoishi nje wanapeleka wapi pesa zao
WaKenya ambao waaishi huku Tanzania na kwingineko duniani, mwaka uliopita walirudisha nyumbani kwao zaidi ya dola za Marekani $640 million. Wauganda nao walirudisha kwao $850 million mwaka jana. Pesa hizi zinatumika kununua nyumba, kulipa ada za shule, matibabu, nk na zinachangia sana kwenye pato la kigeni la nchi hizi jirani zetu.
Huko Kenya, pesa zinazotumwa na raia walio nje ndiyo chanzo kikubwa cha nne cha mapato ya kigeni baada ya mauzo ya nje ya chai, mauwa na utalii.
Benki Kuu ya Tanzania wala haijishuhulishi na pesa zinazotumwa nje na Watanzania na wala haitoi takwimu zake. Kwa mujibu wa makadirio ya Benki ya Dunia, Watanzania wanaoishi nje (diaspora) wengi wenu mkiwa wachangaji wakubwa wa mada humu JF, mwaka jana walitarajiwa kurudisha nchini kwao $17 milion tu?!
Hii ina maana mbili. Watanzania walio nje ni wachache sana au ni wengi lakini siyo skilled workers wanaoweza kupata kipato kizuri kutokana na taaluma zao. Pengine wengi wenu mnafanya kazi za kibarua, hourly shifts kubeba maboksi and flipping burgers MacDonalds na KFC hivyo hamna pesa za kutuma kwenu nyumbani kwa ajili ya maendeleo na kusaidia ndugu zenu. Si mrudi basi Bongo?
Au maana nyingine ni kuwa pesa hizo zinatumwa kwa wingi lakini Benki Kuu haifanyi utaratibu wowote wa kuzirekodi. Au zinatumwa kienyeji kwa kufichwa kwenye barua na mizigo mingine. Ama Watanzania mnaendekeza anasa tu huko majuu wakati Wakenya na Waganda wanajenga nchi zao? Nawaza sipati jibu.
Kenya remittances hit record $641.9 mln in 2010
NAIROBI (Reuters) - Kenyans abroad sent home a record $641.9 million in 2010, a 5 percent increase from the previous year, central bank said on Tuesday.
Remittances are the fourth-largest source of foreign exchange in east Africa's biggest economy after tea, horticulture and tourism.
Kenyans sent a total $65.6 million in December, the highest amount sent in a single month during the whole year.
The funds sent home are typically used on investments such as real estate and equities, or to help families pay for bills such as medical expenses or school fees.
Remittances added up to $609.2 million in 2009 and $611.24 million in the previous year.