Ministry institutions told to operate basing on profit

MEDDY MULISA in Bukoba

Deputy Minister in the ministry, Engineer Edwin Ngonyani

INSTITUTIONS under the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communications have been directed to operate profitably and contribute to the Consolidated Fund (CF).

Deputy Minister for Works, Transport and Communications, Engineer Edwin Ngonyani, issued the directive on Friday when he addressed workers under his ministry in Bukoba municipality.

“Institutions under the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communications must stop depending solely on getting their salaries from the central government, you must operate profitably and avoid bureaucratic tendencies,” he said.

He named the Institutions to include Tanzania Building Agency (TBA), Tanzania Airports Authority (TAA), Tanzania Telecommunications Company (TTCL), Tanzania Electrical Mechanical and Electronics Services (TEMESA), Tanzania Postal Bank (TPB) and Surface and Marine Transport (SUMATRA).

Minister Ngonyani also said all highways and trunk roads in the country should have zebra crossing marks instead of speed bumps. He directed officials under TEMESA to consider increasing the rate of fines collected from unruly drivers who intentionally damage roads through overloading.

“Weigh bridges should not be a source of revenue. This has contributed to corruption and damaging roads,” he said. He also directed TEMESA to increase rates collected on ferries operating along border areas, especially on areas frequently used by traders crossing to a neighbouring country to make business transactions.

This, he said, will generate more revenue. Minister Ngonyani assured residents in Kagera Region that the government had allocated funds in the 2016/2017 budget for buying a new ship to operate along Lake Victoria.

“We have allocated funds in this financial year for buying a new ship and rehabilitate MV Victoria and MV Serengeti which are currently grounded in Mwanza South port undergoing major rehabilitation,” he said.