Why So Many Diasporans Are LEAVING TANZANIA- Real Talk With Biggs!

I would like to share my experience in Tanzania. I'm currently here in Dar. I came with my husband with the influx of African Americans back in July 2020. I've gone back to the US and back here as expected on a tourist visa. My husband has not had to leave and I'll explain why. I know Katherine and her guest are in positions where they are not allowed to verbalize the detail truth of conflicts here so, I would like to go into more detail. It's a long message but it will help you get a better understanding of what to expect and whether you want to deal with some of the issues here. My husband is Jamaican and I am African American. We are not treated the same here in Tanzania. Jamaica has a particular lawfully written agreement where the can stay in Tanzania for extended periods of time, obtain a work visa upon entry into the country etc. On my last re-entry into Tanzania I've become so frustrated with this place that the majority of the time I stay home and only go out about once a week to do all of my shopping spending money into their economy and go back home. I do not live day to day trying to "enjoy" the hangouts spots-I've never been that kind of a person. I honestly came to Africa to live a completely different way of life than in America--that is very warmly received. However there are many nuances that make the journey to Tanzania NOT worth it. EXPECTATIONS: 1. It is a third world and underdeveloped country. 2. The main roads are paved NOT the local small neighborhood streets. BUMPY roads but you can get used to it if you accept that it is what it is here. I just deal with it just like everyone else. 3. Many products from the store are refurbished or rejected items from manufacturers. 50/50 chance of it working properly. 4. There is a lot of bribery done and accepted by the police and many government officials and basically to get ANYTHING done here. 😫 5. Be mentally and physically prepared to wash your clothes on your hands. Or you can hire a house helper, or purchase a washing machine. I've done all three and still have to use two of those options. The machine uses a lot of water and electricity and sometimes it doesn't perform the best. 6. There are no mailing systems like the U.S. postal services or Amazon to deliver items to your home. Aside from the road issues, there are no addresses on most homes. 7. You have to use landmarks or share your location on your phone to direct someone to your home to pick you up or deliver furniture etc. 8. Be prepared to sit in traffic for hours during rush hour. Police direct traffic and will sometimes let one side go for a good ten minutes before allowing opposite direction to move. 9. Traffic is crazy. Be alert for possible head on collisions and a string of cars randomly creating additional lanes driving on the wrong side of the road. Be very alert!! Look every direction even when not at an intersection. 10. The locals always jack up their prices when they know you're foreign but, that cost isn't too significant. There are ways to figure out the true cost for the next encounter. 11. When you're looking for a place to rent don't expect American quality. The owners will definitely try to charge you "American" prices (which really are not American prices its just ridiculous amounts higher than usual) but they will not deliver American quality. I am talking about rental places listings showing nice homes and when you get there you realize pictures are deceiving. Some of the places I've seen would not be deemed livable in the U.S. due to mold, rotten and unsafe structures. They will be serious about renting this out to you and charging American prices. Just learn to not show your disgust and say "Asante, do you have anymore places to show me?" After about the 10th one you get discouraged. You may need to change Dalali's ("realtor") if one isn't showing you what you want to see. I think we've gone through about 4 Dalali's and never found anything livable through them. We found our place through another American family that decided to leave and go back to America. THINGS I HATE: 1. We have a vehicle that we purchased here that runs great. The police normally do random traffic stops to make sure everything is in line (Totally understandable). The trouble is that once they've verified there are no issues they beg for "$$gifty$$." For no reason. I can understand them saying you broke the law and I'm saving you so pay me. But when you are in compliance they still want money. Some of them will exaggerate the cost of an offense. One example we encountered the fire extinguisher was the wrong size and the officer told us the ticket cost is 270,000TSH but she want 50,000TSH cash and she'll let us go. Well, we decided to just accept the ticket only to find out the cost was 30,000TSH. So the officer is trying to make more money off of us than the government. Police ALWAYS want money no matter how tough they act and as if they are offended (sometimes they might be in an area where they would be in trouble accepting a bribe or thye may think you are setting them up to turn them in. But if you keep offering and increasing the amount, they will basically let you out of any situation. I've witnessed this as a back seat passenger with former driver we hired. 2. When locals and police ask where we're from I tend to keep my mouth shut and let my husband tell them he's from Jamaica. They get filled with joy and excitement and hail him up like he's their long lost brother returning home. If they persist with asking me I say I'm American their entire demeanor changes and they don't respond as they do with a Jamaican answer. I totally understand their frustration with America that's why I left but, it makes me want to crawl under a rock and not leave the house. At times I tend to forget how beautiful the land of Tanzania is and when we go out again we encounter the same type of "money solicitation" or "American" experience. Now to touch on some things that they discussed in this video: 1. Many diasporans have applied for the student visa and have been denied. There have also been some who have applied for a business visa and retirement visa and were also denied. The excuses that I've heard were that they don't want African Americans taking the jobs of the natives. Trust me that in itself is an insult. You heard how the young man compared the earnings in Tanzania to other countries; AND they are not granting special visas to African Americans. How can they deny any of these visas for this reason when: a. If you have a student visa=you are NOT allowed to work. b. Retirement visa=these people have their own residual income and are not looking to work. c. Business visa= allows max of 2 foreigners to work for that company (including the owners) All other employees MUST be natives. So, you're actually providing jobs to the natives NOT taking theirs. My husband and I (and many other students in our Swahili school) have applied for student visas while in Tanzania some students were approved and most African Americans were denied (myself included). Now my husband gets to stay in Tanzania and I have to leave every 90 days according to my tourist visa. Laws are being enforced for African Americans that are applying for these types of visas and you're supposed to apply for a student visa while you're outside of Tanzania. According to the government website you have to be interviewed by a Tanzanian embassy official before they determine if you're approved for a student visa and then you may enter Tanzania when you have been formally approved for a student visas. 2. You cannot purchase land or start a business unless you have a partnership with a native and they would own 51% and you 49% of your company and/or land even though it's all your ideas and funding. The best way to go about that is finding someone trustworthy and getting to know them. How long would that take? 🤔 Now many people are saying there are alternate ways around that system but in the end it only takes one person to snitch and have you locked up in prison with no one to defend you in your corner. Hopefully you have enough money to get authorities to look the other way. 🤞🏾Or don't risk it for a country that doesn't really value your presence on their land. Yes these issues will still be prevalent in any third world country but, at least there's a better chance of purchasing land and attaining long-term residency in other countries. Just a few reason why some people that I've met have left.