Tanga Port pinned on barge deal

Paradise blog

During an impromptu visit at Tanzania’s second largest port here yesterday, Mr Majaliwa directed Mr Alika to submit a comprehensive report on why and who was responsible for buying such substandard barges, which did not reflect value for money.

“You have bought three barges instead of two as you were directed; and to make matters worse, the barges are of very low quality.

You must provide me with a comprehensive report on what transpired and who endorsed such a decision so that appropriate measures could be taken against the culprits,” said Mr Majaliwa.

According to the prime minister, the government had directed the port to buy two modern barges to speed up loading and unloading of cargo but the port’s management did not follow instructions, purchasing instead, three outdated small barges.

He said Tanga was the second largest port in the country and the government would, therefore, like to see performing better in all sectors to create confidence among its users, taking into account the competition posed by ports in a neighbouring country.

The Premier ordered the port master to present him with the required report by 12 noon today, complete with a detailed explanation on why they decided to buy three barges instead of two as directed before.

Mr Majaliwa further asked the port’s management and security organs in the region to make sure that they stem smuggling of sugar and other commodities along the Tanga coast.

He said there was information that the bulk of smuggled sugar passed through ‘panya’ routes along the Tanga coast, adversely affecting trade for locally produced sugar.

The PM added that he would like to see such ‘panya’ routes controlled and stern measures taken against culprits. He observed that sugar smuggling affected local production and marketing of the sweetener, considering the fact that the vice cheated the taxation machinery much as it was being sold comparatively cheaper. Such unfair business trend, the PM noted, caused local sugar factories to lower their productivity.

“We want to protect local sugar factories...we have four of them, which have the capacity of meeting internal demand.

However, they do not produce to their maximum capacity for fear of lack of market following the influx of illegal sugar imports. We must avoid this trend,” Mr Majaliwa stressed.