TPA to FACE fresh graft scan over Mtwara port contract

Prime Minister Majaliwa Kassim Majaliwa

 There are signs of corruption in a Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) contract for the $214 million expansion of the Mtwara port, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa (pictured) has asserted.

 

Majaliwa made the observation after a personal visit to the port, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) yesterday. The premier said he had information that although a winner had already been picked for the project tender, there were deliberate delays in concluding the tender through the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA).

 

He ordered local authorities to look into the matter and said all the officials linked to the delays would be tracked down and dealt with accordingly.

 

“The officials have been not cooperative with the investor due to their extreme bureaucracy…we (government) will follow-up to find the root cause,” Majaliwa said.

 

The prime minister also said the government will next month release 13.8bn/- for compensation to pave way for the expansion work.

The discovery of oil and gas offshore along the country’s southern coast is seen as the main reason for the planned expansion and upgrade of the Mtwara port, which has seen rising cargo traffic due to the ongoing oil and gas exploration activity.

 

The project will include the building of new berths to cater for an envisaged further spike in shipping activity at the port.

 

Mtwara port, established in 1950, has lately been facing a daunting challenge of shortage of berth space, harbour cranes and other equipments.

 

Preliminary estimates showed that at least $1.7 million was needed to improve infrastructure and working equipment like cranes and tractors at the port.

 

Majaliwa called on legislators in Mtwara Region to help oversee the project which is envisioned to increase revenues and create jobs for the local population.

 

Mtwara initially acquired 100 hectares of land to construct a free port zone, with another 400 hectares set aside for oil and gas processing activities.  The free port zones are customs-controlled areas where imported duty-free goods are stored for purposes of trade.

Premier Majaliwa instructed the regional commissioner to hold a regional security meeting with the aim of charting out ways to eliminate illegal ports along the Indian Ocean coastline.

 

Meanwhile, Mtwara Port Master Prosper Kimaro admitted that some officials in the procurement department were attempting to “be smart” at the expense of the project and potentially high government revenue.

Kimaro said a whopping 300m/- was recently retrieved before it could be minted by the unscrupulous procurement officials.