BabuK
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- Jul 30, 2008
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Transport Minister Dr Harrison Mwakyembe yesterday received the report of the team which investigated the source of inefficiency at the Dar es Salaam Port, promising that its recommendations will be worked on.
Speaking to journalists in Dar es Salaam yesterday the minister said the action taken against the Tanzania Port Authority officials has been fruitful as he has been receiving messages from ministers in various countries praising improvements at the port.
He cited the new system which has spared customers the old arrangement of paying cash at the port and instead doing so directly through banks.
Mwakyembe said the action has also helped to restore customer trust and increased revenue.
He said all the team's recommendations will be fully implemented by December this year, including coming up with effective strategies against theft and delay of cargo at the port.
The Minister said that in the last three years, a total of 38 containers have been stolen at the port, explaining that 36 of them were stolen two years ago while two were stolen this year.
"These acts have contributed to tarnishing the image of the port in the eyes of our neighbours," said Mwakyembe, adding: "I was shocked by one report released by International agencies which showed that Dar es Salaam Port is leading in inefficiency among 36 ports in the world. I said we must act against this shame!" he said
Earlier, Attorney Bernard Mbakileki who led the probe committee said his team interviewed more than 106 people including some of TPA staff, businessmen as well as visiting various offices, including those of Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA), Weights and Measures Agency, Chang'ombe Police Post and Tanzania International Container Terminal Services (TICTS).
He said the team faced a number of challenges including refusal by some of the people listed to be interviewed by the committee.
"Some of them switched off their phones, while others pretended to be ill and yet others claimed that they have traveled.
In August this year Minister Mwakyembe suspended Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) Director General Ephraim Mgawe and five other senior officials, pending investigation into corruption and theft allegations at Dar es Salaam Port.
Mwakyembe formed a seven-member committee to investigate what he termed as massive corruption, theft of oil and cargo at the port which, he said, threatened business with neighbouring countries.
The committee among other things was assigned to probe massive loss of containers being handled by Tanzania International Container Terminal Services Ltd.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
Speaking to journalists in Dar es Salaam yesterday the minister said the action taken against the Tanzania Port Authority officials has been fruitful as he has been receiving messages from ministers in various countries praising improvements at the port.
He cited the new system which has spared customers the old arrangement of paying cash at the port and instead doing so directly through banks.
Mwakyembe said the action has also helped to restore customer trust and increased revenue.
He said all the team's recommendations will be fully implemented by December this year, including coming up with effective strategies against theft and delay of cargo at the port.
The Minister said that in the last three years, a total of 38 containers have been stolen at the port, explaining that 36 of them were stolen two years ago while two were stolen this year.
"These acts have contributed to tarnishing the image of the port in the eyes of our neighbours," said Mwakyembe, adding: "I was shocked by one report released by International agencies which showed that Dar es Salaam Port is leading in inefficiency among 36 ports in the world. I said we must act against this shame!" he said
Earlier, Attorney Bernard Mbakileki who led the probe committee said his team interviewed more than 106 people including some of TPA staff, businessmen as well as visiting various offices, including those of Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA), Weights and Measures Agency, Chang'ombe Police Post and Tanzania International Container Terminal Services (TICTS).
He said the team faced a number of challenges including refusal by some of the people listed to be interviewed by the committee.
"Some of them switched off their phones, while others pretended to be ill and yet others claimed that they have traveled.
In August this year Minister Mwakyembe suspended Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) Director General Ephraim Mgawe and five other senior officials, pending investigation into corruption and theft allegations at Dar es Salaam Port.
Mwakyembe formed a seven-member committee to investigate what he termed as massive corruption, theft of oil and cargo at the port which, he said, threatened business with neighbouring countries.
The committee among other things was assigned to probe massive loss of containers being handled by Tanzania International Container Terminal Services Ltd.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
