DRC, Rwandan traders revert to D’Salaam Port

SYLIVESTER DOMASA in Dodoma

TRADERS from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda who had ditched the Dar es Salaam Port have reverted to the facility for clearance of their import and export goods.

The good news to Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) and Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) ends widely circulated claims by critics over trifling cargo traffic at the East African long servicing port.

Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa revealed in the National Assembly here yesterday that traders from the two countries had just issued a written document to confirm their trade cooperation with Dar es Salaam port authority.

“DRC issued a letter last week confirming they will now use Dar es Salaam port as their entry port. Rwanda also expressed their readiness to use our port,” the Premier said when responding to a question by Hai MP Freeman Mbowe during questions to the Prime Minister session.

Mr Majaliwa explained however trifling cargo traffic at the Dar es Salaam port was a global concern, blaming the dwindling business to global fall on oil and gas prices. “I met a businessman from Singapore.

He supply ships across the globe and what he told me is that the fall in the cargo traffic at the port was a worldwide concern,” Mr Majaliwa said.

He identified that while traffic cargo at the Dar es Salaam port had dropped, Tanzania continued to record positive revenue collections, thanks to enhanced supervision and control against tax evasion.

Figures by TRA regarding the actual revenue collected by TPA in Tanzania Mainland as of August 16, this year shows that the government’s target was surpassed by 0.36 percent.

Fresh figures from November 2015 to August 2016 show that revenues collected had been surpassing targets, except for April and July, this year, when collections were attained by 99.8 and 95.6 percent, respectively.

The PM said the fifth phase government will continue working on possible mechanisms to improve the country’s economy. He however dismissed as baseless claims by Mr Mbowe that the country’s economy was sinking.

Mr Mbowe claimed that 40 percent of companies in the country had been suspended while several others being undecided to invest in the country due to continued drop in banking deposits.

“What are immediate plans by the government to revamp clipping economic situation in the country,” Mr Mbowe asked. The PM said the government will direct responsible authorities to assess what the legislator said but assured that the fall of cargo at the port had nothing to do with the economic situation in the country. He said after a thorough study on the current state of economy, the government will issue an official statement.

However, he said the construction of the 15 billion US dollar standard gauge in Tanzania will open up new trade opportunities for Tanzania, charging that the government was firm and strong to serve the citizens.