ZAMBIAN President Edgar Lungu toured the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) yesterday, reaffirming his country’s commitment to continue using the Dar es Salaam Port.
Mr Lungu who concluded his three day
state visit in the country said that strong business ties between
Tanzania and Zambia were only based on the brotherly relationship that
the two countries have enjoyed for many years, but also because on the
efficiency and continued improvements in service delivery at the port.
The Zambian leader spoke after his tour
of various departments at the port, categorically stating that his
country would contine hauling huge cargo volume through the port, should
it continue improving services ahead of other ports in the Southern
African region.
During a joint press briefing at State
House on Monday, President John Magufuli appreciated Zambia as the
leading country with high volume of cargo through the Dar es Salaam
Port, hinting that in 2015 alone, 1.9 million tonnes were cleared at the
port amid business boom between the two countries from 89.2bn/- in 2010
to 152.2bn/- in 2015.
“President Magufuli and I have close
friendship and our countries have a long history, but let me come out
clearly that Zambians are not using this port simply because of our
friendship, but because of efficiency and fasttracking of cargo
clearance from the port,’’ said the visiting presidnet.
He said Zambians were dodging other
ports due to inefficiency, reminding the Dar es Salaam port management
to maintain efficiency.
“I want to challenge you that there are
other countries offering the same service like yours, you therefore need
to continue offering innovative, affordable and efficient services,”
reminded the Zambian president.
At the conclusion of his visit, Mr Lungu
further reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to further
strengthen the existing bond and mutually beneficial cooperation between
the two countries.
He expressed his appreciation to
President Magufuli, his government and all Tanzanians for the warm
reception and hospitality accorded to him and his delegation, inviting
Dr Magufuli to visit Zambia at his convenient time.
Earlier, briefing the Zambian president
on the services offered to Zambian businesspeople at the port, TPA
Director General Engineer Deusdedit Kakoko, said Zambia was transporting
copper, refined and crude oil as well as manure through the Dar es
Salaam port.
“For many years, Zambia has been the
leading country in transporting huge cargo volumes through this
port...last year, Zambian cargo that was cleared accounted for 36 per
cent of the port’s cargo,’’ he said.
According to Eng. Kakoko, services at
the port were improving each day, insisting that currently container
clearance days have been reduced from 32 in 2008 to 11 and that the
ships that bring cargo at the port are now cleared within few days.
On security, Eng Kakoko said, apart from
the security officials, there are over 400 CCTV Cameras that make it
difficult to steal cargo from the port.
During the visit, Dr Magufuli and his
Zambian counterpart discussed various issues of mutual interests,
including the Tanzania- Zambia Railway Authority, Tanzania- Zambia Oil
Pipeline (TAZAMA) and the Nakonde-Tunduma One Stop Border Post.
The two leaders also witnessed the
signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the establishment of
diplomatic consultations as well as exchanging views on regional and
international issues.
Dr Magufuli bid farewell to the Zambian
leader who flew back to Lusaka yesterday at around 12:17pm at Julius
Nyerere International Airport (JNIA).
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