Stakeholders throw weight behind TPA’s port renovations

Dailynews reporter

TPSF Managing Director Raphael Maganga

TANZANIA: STAKEHOLDERS have hailed transformations in Tanzania’s ports, saying the improved infrastructure have enhanced revenue collection and smooth operations to the

advantage of port users and national economy.

The Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF), the Tanzania National Business Council (TNBC) and interviewed individuals have hailed the government for dishing out funds to the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) to carry out major upgrading projects.

They were commenting on dividends given to the government by 145 companies last Tuesday, where the TPA topped the list.

TPSF Managing Director Raphael Maganga attributed an increase in port revenue to world class marine infrastructure and the performing management now witnessed in Tanzania’s ports, especially in Dar es Salaam Port.

Mr Maganga also attributed present efficiency in Tanzania’s ports to investment decisions that he said make business flourish.

“We have reached a stage where the ports’ software is well interconnected with software of the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) and other institutions. This explains TPA’s increased revenue, profits and the handsome dividend to the government. It explains the huge contribution of the private sector to this country,” he underscored.

He praised the TPA for good administration and right interpretation of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s vision on attracting foreign investments.

Mr Maganga said Dar es Salaam Port, for example, is serving clients who formally used Mombasa and Durban ports.

ALSO READ: TPA assures better services for Malawi

TNBC Executive Secretary Godwill Wanga congratulated TPA for giving the biggest dividend to the government, saying that TPA’s success is a testimony to how Tanzania has improved the environment for doing business and attracting foreign investments.

“The government of President Samia has put enormous effort in ensuring the environment for doing business remains enabling and friendly, so that public and private companies do business together,” he said, explaining that making requisite improvements in the operations of the ports is a good example of successful public-private partnership ventures.

Advocate Tasco Luambano said TPA’s huge dividend to the government has silenced critics of private investment in port operations.

“I talked about the importance of having competition in running ports. TPA’s 2023/24 dividend proves increased efficiency as a result of competition and that competition has contributed to increased revenue. Critics are now quiet,” he said.

Dr Luambano is senior lecture at Mzumbe University, Mbeya Campus. Dr Luambano has asked the private sector to put forward haulage initiatives and form public-private cargo companies On Tuesday President Samia received in Dar es Salaam a total of 636bn/- from 145 companies.

Business entities contributed 278bn/- and regularitories contributed 358bn/-. President Samia called each company next time to contribute more money than what it has contributed this year.

The president said she is optimistic next year the TPA will give the government more than twice the amount it offered this year because, she said, port business is thriving.

In Dar es Salaam Port, DP World is operating berths 4,5,6 and 7. TPA and DP World are operating jointly berths 1, 2 and 3.