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instructions, purchasing instead, three outdated small barges.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.
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