Customs (TRA) inavyohujumu waagizao magari ya Japan

Ogah,
mimi nakubaliana na wewe,lakini kwa bongo kisomo na kazi ni vitu viwili tofauti na hapo ndipo penye tatizo.hapa kuna mambo mengi yamejificha ndio maana utakuta kila kitu kimewekwa kwa mafumbo mafumbo tu.sisi ndio tunaweza kibadilisha hii TRA kama nilivyosema mwanzo hakuna njia ya mkato ni kupambana kwa kutumia sheria zao wenyewe.
Husione tabu kutafuta haki yako,na ukiwafanyia hivyo mara moja tu basi siku nyingine wakiona mzigo wako wataogopa kufanya ujinga.
Njia nyingine rahisi ili wasiuplift mzigo wako katia bima,hawawezi kuuplift hata kiama kije.

Mkuu hii issue ya bima sijaielewa vizuri labda uniewelshe mkuu. However hii pia nadhani nayo inachangia kuogza gharama kitu ambacho kama TRA wasingekuwa na mambo kama haya wala hii isingekuwa issu. Na kama alivyosema jamaa hapo juu kesi ikienda mahakamani hadi iishe ni miaka. Kwanza sijui Tanzania tunamahakama ngapi za biashara maana naamini kesi kama hizi inabidi zipelekwe kule.
 
MK,
Swala la bima ni kuwa unakatia bima yako kutokana na thamani ya mzigo,na utakuwa na kati ya bima,hivyo wakati wa kuwasilisha fomu zako unaambatanisha na cheti cha bima.kisheria hawawezi kupandisha thamani ya mzigo wako.
 
MK,
Swala la bima ni kuwa unakatia bima yako kutokana na thamani ya mzigo,na utakuwa na kati ya bima,hivyo wakati wa kuwasilisha fomu zako unaambatanisha na cheti cha bima.kisheria hawawezi kupandisha thamani ya mzigo wako.

Mkuu nimekuelewa vizuri kabisa hapo. THANKS. Ila sasa nini kifanyike ili wananchi wengine wasiendelee kunyanyaswa na huu mfumo wa TRA? Nilikuwa nasoma kwenye site ya WB nikakuta kumbe hata mkopo wa mabilion kwa ajili ya capacity bulding ulishatolewa kwa TRA na world bank lakini no changes.
 
MK,
Tatizo sio TRA pekeyake ni kila chombo cha serikali kimeoza,ni mfumo mbaya tuliojijengea,uwezi kufanikiwa kitu chako serikalini kama humjui mtu,tuna matatizo makubwa sana.

Lakini kila kitu kinawezekana,tunaitaji kiongozi mmoja ambaye atafanya maamuzi bila kuangalia makunyanzi na kufuatilia maamuzi yake.yaani mtu asiye yumbishwa na watawala,

Kwa upande wa pili matumizi ya serikali yanawakatisha tamaa wengi wa watendaji hivyo na wao kuamua kujichotea chao mapema.
 
MK,
Swala la bima ni kuwa unakatia bima yako kutokana na thamani ya mzigo,na utakuwa na kati ya bima,hivyo wakati wa kuwasilisha fomu zako unaambatanisha na cheti cha bima.kisheria hawawezi kupandisha thamani ya mzigo wako.

Mkuu katibu tarafa

thanks kwa habari hiyo ya bima..........naomba pia nieleweshe hiyo niliyopaka rangi tafadhali...............unajua tena wengine ni slow learners

rgds
 
Mkuu nimekuelewa sasa inabidi nitafute shule kuhusu bima maana nataka kutuma mzigo ila mizengwe ya kule ilinitisha. Thanks mkuu
 
Pekua Tovuti








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TRA yatuhumiwa kumhujumu mfanyabiashara




na Mwandishi Wetu



MGOGORO mkubwa wa kibiashara baina ya kampuni kubwa mbili za Dar es Salaam unatishia kuifikisha Mamlaka ya Mapato nchini (TRA), mahakamani.
Habari ambazo gazeti hili limezipata zinaeleza kuwa TRA imetishiwa kupelekwa mahakamani baada ya kuzuia makontena mawili ya mfanyabiashara mmoja ambaye alishalipia kodi na ushuru wote unaotakiwa kisheria.

Makontena hayo yana katoni za bia aina ya Heinken na inadaiwa kuwa kuzuiwa kwake kunatokana na shinikizo lililowekwa na kampuni nyingine, ambayo inadai kuwa ina haki za ukiritimba wa kuagiza kinywaji hicho nchini.

Malalamiko dhidi ya TRA yametolewa na Kampuni ya Baraka Store kwa kuzuiliwa kwa makontena mawili yaliyokuwa na bia ya Heinken alizoziagiza kutoka Dubai ambazo ziliingia bandarini Septemba 3 mwaka huu.

Badaa ya makontena hayo kuingia, siku iliyofuata ilitolewa notisi yapelekwe katika maghala ya kuhifadhiwa mizigo inayosubiri kukamilishwa kwa taratibu za ushuru kabla mteja hajaruhusiwa kuchukua mzigo wake.

Taratibu hizo zilikamilika Septemba 10 mwaka huu baada ya mteja huyo kulipa jumla ya sh milioni 19.6 kama ushuru wa bidhaa hiyo na baadaye kupata vibali kutoka katika Mamlaka ya Chakula na Dawa (TFDA) na Shirika la Viwango Tanzania (TBS), ambapo alilipia gharama za kupata vibali vya mzigo huo.

Baada ya kukamilisha taratibu hizo, cha kushangaza, badala ya kuruhusu mzigo huo kutolewa, TRA ilianza kutoa sababu zisizokuwa na msingi, ikiwemo kufanya ukaguzi wa makontena hayo ulioshuhudiwa na wawakilishi wa Kampuni ya Mabibo, wachunguzi kutoka Tume ya Ushindani na wawakilishi wa serikali wanaopambana na dawa za kulevya na mwakilishi wa mteja wa Baraka Store.

Lengo la ukaguzi huo ilikuwa ni kuangalia kuwa bidhaa zilizomo ndani ya makontena hayo ni halisi, na ukaguzi huo ulibaini kuwa bidhaa hizo hazikuwa na matatizo yoyote.

Hata hivyo, TRA iliendelea kuyashikilia makontena hayo na baadaye ilimwandikia mwagizaji huyo barua ikimtaka aombe ridhaa ya kampuni ya Mabibo kwanza ili mzigo wake uachiwe.

Katika barua hiyo, TRA ilisema ililazimika kufanya hivyo kwa mujibu wa tangazo la serikali namba 949 la mwaka 2003 lakini mteja huyo anadai kuwa katika mwaka huo alikuwahi kutolewa tangazo la serikali lenye namba hiyo.

Kwa mujibu wa kumbukumbu zilizopo, anadai mteja huyo, tangazo la serikali la mwisho kutolewa mwaka 2003 lilikuwa na namba 424 na lilitolewa Desemba 26.

Mwagizaji huyo anadai kuwa kitendo cha TRA kutumia rasilimali za umma kwa ajili ya kuweka ukiritimba wa kampuni binafsi ni kinyume cha taratibu za sheria ya Tume ya Ushindani, ambapo chini ya sheria hiyo mtu yeyote au taasisi yoyote hairuhusiwi kuwa na ukiritimba na kufanya hivyo ni kosa la jinai.

Katika barua ambayo kampuni hiyo imeiandikia TRA kupitia kwa wakili wake, inataka TRA iyaachie makontena hayo bila ya masharti yoyote haraka iwezekanavyo.

Aidha, anaitaka TRA kurejesha gharama za ushuru wa kuhifadhi bidhaa ambazo kampuni hiyo inaingia tangu Septemba 10 ambapo ilikamilisha malipo yote kwa ajili ya kupatiwa mzigo wake.

Pia anataka kulipwa fidia kutokana na hasara aliyoipata na anayoendelea kuipata kutokana na hatua ya TRA kuzuia mizigo hiyo na iwapo hayo hayatafanyika, ataishitaki mamlaka hiyo mahakamani.
 
Huyo anayedai kuwa yeye pekee ana kibali cha kuingiza aina hiyo ya Bia nchini anaitwa Rugemarila.....ndio huyu jamaa aliyetuingiza mkenge wa IPTL...................na sasa anakula sahani moja na TRA................sie wanyonge hata tulipe kodi vipi bado tutazidi kuumizwa na akina Rugemarila
 
...utendaji wa Serikali yetu ni wa kukatisha tamaa sana na ndio chanzo cha umaskini wote tulionao hebu angalia kuanzia Hazina,Polisi,Elimu ya juu,mambo ya ndani,TRA etc yaani ni balaa tupu...na tumejaza commissioners na wakurugenzi tunaowafinance kwa mamilioni ili wafanye kazi tunachopata mungu anajua...JK kuliko kujifanya anasafiri kutangaza bora angekaa nyumbani na kuanza kusafisha hizo idara za serikali moja baada ya nyingine na tungepata nyingi in return kuliko hiyo misaada anayotuambia kila siku....na utapigana vipi na rushwa kama mfumo mzima wa kazi ni huu uliopo,rushwa nyingine zinatokana na utendaji kama huu wa kizembe...dawa ni kutumia technology katika huduma hizo za serikali maana computer haiwezi kuonea mtu na iko very efficient!
 
bandia za Sh170m zakamatwa Mwanza
Na Paulina David,Mwanza

TUME ya Ushindani (FCC) imesema imekamata na kuteketeza bidhaa bandia zenye thamani ya zaidi ya Sh170 milioni zilizokuwa zimeingizwa nchini zikitokea China.


Mkuu wa Idara ya Kudhibiti Bidhaa Bandia, John Mponela, alisema kuwa bidhaa hizo zimekamatwa na kuteketezwa kwa kipindi cha Machi hadi Oktoba mwaka huu.


Alisema katika kipindi cha Machi FCC ilikamata tube light 4 aina ya Phillips zenye jumla ya thamani ya dola za kimarekani 20,000 kabla ya kodi zilizokuwa zimengenezwa nchini China, zikiwa katoni 3085.


Mponela lisema kuwa Agosti mwaka huu mamlaka hiyo ilikamata dawa za viatu aina ya kiwi yenye ujazo wa 25 gramu, zenye jumla ya Sh21 milioni

zilizotengenezwa china zikiwa kwenye konteina zikiwa ni katoni 303 kila moja ikiwa na uwezo wa kubeba kiwi 30.


Alisema katika kipindi hicho hicho Kiwi nyingine zilikamatwa nazo kutoka nchini china za shilingi 4 milioni zilikamatwa kwenye makonteina zikiwa ni katoni 42 kila katoni ikiwa na kiwi 30.


Mponela alisema kuwa kabla ya mwezi huo kuisha TCC ilikamata TV, aina ya Sony Wega zenye thamani ya Sh3 milioni, zikiwa zimetengenezwa nchini China zikiwa 20.


Aliongeza kuwa Septemba mwaka huu vifaa mbalimbali vya ujenzi vilikamatwa vyenye jumla ya thamani ya Sh39.7 milion vilivyotengenezwa nchini china.


Alisema mwezi OKtoba mabomba ya umeme yaliyotengenezwa nchini china yalikamatwa yakiwa katoni 733 na kila katoni lilikuwa na pisi za mapomba 144 yenye thamani ya Sh31.7 milioni. Alisema mabomba ya kuunganishia umeme zilikamatwa zikiwa katoni 448 zenye thamani ya Sh 48.8 milioni.


Alisema kutokana na hali hiyo FCC imebaini kuwa idadi kubwa ya vitu vya bandia vinahusu sekta ya ujenzi na vitu vingi vikiwa vinatoka nchini China na kuwaomba wananchi wawe makina na bidhaa wanazonunua kwani huleta madhara.


Hivi karibuni utasikia matukio mengi ya nyumba za watu kuungua na watu kupoteza maisha lakini ukichunguza chimbuko lake ni umeme na siyo tu unatokana na Tanesco bali vifaa vya bandia vinavyouzwa kwa watu,�lisema.
 
TRA kuna NUKA UVUNDO...Katibu TARAFA tupe shule,kwani style ulosema ya watu kujuana itawaumiza wengi sana. kwanza kupata kazi pale TRA nako noma..hadi ujuane na Jamaa.
Naunga mkono wote walochangia hii mada kwani ni vitu vinavyogusa watu. Wengi wa Maagent hawana Elimu kabisa ya Shipping, lkn pia ujuzi wa TAX hawaujui, wanachofanya ni kucheza DEAL na wanaume wa TRA...na CONTENA TERMINAL wao kazi yao ndio..na Huwezi amini atakae ajiriwa pale ndani ya six months atamiliki kila kitu cha THAMANI...JK sijui aambiwe na nani ndio atasikia...maana Kama Miundo Mbinu ya NCHI itaboreshwa basi "UMATONYA " wetu utapungua. Just imagine, mtu kaambiwa alipie dola 4500..hawawezi kulipa anachofanya ni kupita njia za panya analipa 1500, 1000 anawalipa TRA officers, thus ALL...Hapo GOVT imelost..ukizidisha 1000times..
 
Jamani TRA sasa hivi ukitaka kufungua biashara unalipa kodi in advance, ile relief ya miezi mitatu haipo tena!!! cha ajabu ukiomba TIN certificate unajibiwa "printa mbovu wewe kalipe tu"

TRA ya enzi ya Mkapa nitofauti kabisa na hii ya leo! sijui wanatafuta fedha za kugharamia Richmond!!
 
Dear Customers,

Good day to all of you.

This is Masao Kuwabara of Autorec Tanzania Limited and Toru Ogawa of Autorec Enterprise LTD. Japan.

Thanks to you, we have been operating business in Tanzania with lots of joy.

But there have been one serious problem that all the exporters, not only
Autorec, who do business with Tanzania are facing. We have been making
lots of effort to solve the problem, but it still remains in Tanzania.

Today, I'd like to figure out what is happening in Tanzania against used
vehicle trade. And we'll appreciate a lot if you'll give us your advices
on this issue.

As all of you are aware, IMPORT REGULATION against used vehicles have
been started in Tanzania since July 2006. Now if one will import used
vehicles whose age is exceeding 10 years, they will be penalised and
charged extra 20% excise duty.

This kind of regulation is found with several more countries. And as a
trader who do business with Tanzania, we respect the country's policy.
We shall not go against it or complain about it.

Therefore, since this policy started, we have been trying to adjust our
stock so that they will meet the demand of customers in Tanzania. Now
you may find many 1999+ vehicles in our stock.

But there's a serious problem with this policy as it has been operated
without clear definition about the AGE OF THE VEHICLES.

Let us share one sample story here.

1) Unreasonable penalties against some importers in Tanzania
Some time ago, one of the customer has bought JZX100 MARK II 1999model.
As this is of year 1999, definitely, the customer didin't have to be
penalised.
However, once the vehicle reached Dar es salaam port, the officers of
Tanzania's Customs have inspected the vehicle phisically, and finally
started saying that this vehicle is manufactured in 1995! They said so
because they found a small label on the vehicle's seatbelt saying "1995".

While the vehicle had come with the EXPORT CERTIFICATE issued and
authorised by Govenment of Japan and another certificate issued by JAAI
(Japan Automobile Appraisal Institute), both clearly indicates its year
as 1999, Customs office still insist that this vehicle is of 1995 and
thus should be penalised.


2) Manufactured year of seatbelt is not manufactured year of the vehicle
Actually, I have done some research about the label on the seatbelt
while I was still in Japan. I have communicated with TOKAI RIKA company,
who is the manufacturer / supplier of the seatbelts for TOYOTA's
products. They told me that the information on the label of the seatbelt
simply shows the manufactured year of the seatbelt itself!

In heavy industries such as vehicle manufacture, the products are
manufactured by cooperation of several companies so that they can reduce
the time and cost.

If it is about this MARK II, there should be seatbelt manufacturer,
window screen manufacturer, computer manufacturer, tyre manufacturer,
electric parts manufacturer, head lamp manufactuer, gasket manufacturer,
tube manufacturer, bolt & nut manufactuer and so on and so forth.

Each manufactured parts will be brought to the warehouse or the factory
of vehicle manufacturers (such as TOYOTA) and then a unit of vehicle
will be assembled there. It is very much possible for some parts to
spend several months or even more than a year before it will be assembled to a vehicle.

Therefore, NO BODY CAN DEFINE THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE FROM THE SEATBELT
LABEL OR ANY OTHER PARTS OF THE VEHICLES.

Especially, with this JZX100 MARK II, it is totally wrong for them to
insist that this was manufactured in 1995. There's a clear reason to
deny their statement.

Why??? Because TOYOTA STARTED SELLING JZX100 IN LATE 1996!! THEREFORE,
IN 1995, THIS PARTICULAR MODEL DIDN'T EXIST EVEN ON CATALOGUES!!!


3) Definition of the vehicles of age in Japan
Unfortunately, we learnt that there are some misunderstandings among the
Customs officers at the port about definition about the age of the
vehicles. Once they find the labels on the belts like this, they just
disregard the authorized documents and try to charge additional duty
against importers. And this is totally wrong.

Most of the vehicles we sell originate in Japan. Therefore, we process
the paper work and other arrangements based on the documents published
by the Government of Japan, Government of MANUFACTURERS' COUNTRY.

On this official document called Export Certificate, it only shows the
YEAR OF FIRST REGISTRATION of the vehicles. There’s no information about
MANUFACTURED YEAR. This is how they control the product in Japan.
Information of manufactured year of the vehicles are not obtainable.

Both for domestic and oversea market, the used / new vehicles suppliers
do the paper work by using the data on this document because there are
no other official documents to identify the vehicles.

But to the Customs in Tanzania, it looks like this document is not acceptable. The differences on the definition of the AGE OF THE VEHICLES between
Tanzania and Japan is creating serious problems.


4) Autorec's efforts to solve this problem
One day, I have seen Commissioner for Customs and Excise face to face in
his office and discussed about this problem.
Unfortunately, there was no good solution on that day. Commissioner told
me that this is just a minor problem as these are only a few cases among
lots of cars. Instead, he promised me that he’s going to solve these one
by one by communicating with the manufacturers in Japan to know the
actual manufactured year once the same case comes out.

Believing his word, when we had another problem with NISSAN MARCH,
chassis number k11-683281, I asked for his assistance. I was thinking
that he has a special relationship with the manufactures in Japan and he
can get such information that we can not get from them. However, instead
of contacting NISSAN MOTORS in Japan, he contacted D.T.Dobbie (NISSAN’s
distributor in Tanzania). Once D.T.Dobie told him that they don’t deal
in used cars, it was the end of his investigation.

We, Autorec, has contacted NISSAN MOTORS by ourselves, explained the
situation, and finally got a letter from NISSAN to identify the
manufactured year of this unit as an exceptional case (they normally
don't publish such information).

We brought this letter to the Commissioner and we believed that this
will be solved. But I was surprised to know the Commissioner's next
action. Once again, he sent this letter from NISSAN to D.T.Dobbie, and
once again, D.T.Dobbie told him that they don't deal with used cars, and
once again, it was the end of his investigation!

Why should he communicate with D.T.Dobbie while we brought him the
letter from original manufacturer? This is very much not understandable.
The case remained unsolved.

On another day, I received a letter from the Commissioner as a reply to
my letters. In that message, he was saying that now he understood that
the year on the seatbelt label is not the year of manufactured year of
the vehicle.

But still then, the people of the Customs are still judging the age of
the vehicle by checking the seatbelts and other small parts.

We have been fighting against this misunderstanding. We have been
sending letters to Commisioner of Customs and Excise again and again. We
send CC to TBS, TRA, Ministry of Finance, JAAI, Embassy of Tanzania in
Japan and Embassy of Japan in Tanzania. We have been appealing that the
importers in Tanzania should not be charged unfair duties from such a
misunderstanding.

Unfortunately, the Commissioner of Customs is not even replying to our
letters these days. Then we have also sent simillar letter to Parmanent
Secretary of Ministry of Finance. We also got diplomatic support from
Embassy of Japan in Tanzania, Japanese Ambassador has sent an official
letter to Ministry of Finance.

We are hearing that in August 2007, by sending letter to the
Commissioner for Customs and Excise, Ministry of Finance has advised
them to reconsider the definition of the age of the vehicle. But we
haven't seen any changes even after that.

We have been explaing all about this to the people mentioned above and
asking them to reconsider the definition of the age of the vehicle.

In January 2008, I have spoken to the people of Embassy of Japan once
again and asked for some diplomatic assistance because I was feeling
that the authority in this country is not interested to listen to the
voice of one small vehicle supplier.

This time, the First Secretary of Embassy of Japan has met Commissioner
for Customs and Excise by himself and discussed on the same issue.
According to the story I heard from the Secretary, the Commissioner has
understood the situation and promissed that he will work on this to
solve the problem.

Embassy of Japan has wrote an official letter once again to appeal that
the vehicles' age should be defined based on the official documents
because there's nothing else apart from that.


5) Problem for Autorec, the supplier
The issue itself is something between the importers and the Customs in
Tanzania. Therefore, the authority treat us as if we are just outsiders.
It seems as if they are saying that it is not something that a supplier
like Autorec should interrupt. But the situation doesn’t allow us to sit
behind.

We explain the nature of these problems to the importers (our customers)
who actually suffered this problem and advice them to insist against the
Customs that they have the proper vehicle and official documents. But
instead of fighting against misunderstandings of Customs authority, some
of them actually turn around and start attacking Autorec, saying that
Autorec has sent fake documents / cars and cheated them! Some of them
even threaten us that they are going to take it a court case or attack
us through media.

This is totally not acceptable because Autorec has done nothing wrong in
the procedures.

Something more unpleasant for us is the fact that some of the Customs
officers, when they found the seatbelt label which has different
information with the official document, tell the importers that the
supplier (Autorec) has tricked them with forged documents!!! We totally
don't understand why people on a responsible position can say such a
irresponsible word without doing researches!!!! This is like exeucting
someone for guilty without properly checking!!! This is a clear
offensive disturbance to our business. Or they are making us a scapegoat so that the importers will not complain against them.

And as you can see, this is not a problem only for Autorec, but for the
used vehicle trade business as a whole. Indeed, this is actually creating a very negative image not only to our business but for the customers in Tanzania who intend to import used vehicles from Japan. While we are shipping the right vehicles in right
procedure with proper documents (authorized by the Government of manufacturers country), some importers misjudge that we are cheating them. This would be a serious damage to us if they continue doing this.

I understand the anger and disappointment of the importers who are
charged of the penalty of 20% against a vehicle they bought as less
10-year-old cars. But even if they attack us, there’s no solution
because there was nothing wrong on our side.

Therefore, we need a fundamental solution.


6) Similar problem and its solution in Kenya
In Kenya, several years ago, they had the same problem as they also have
year regulation against used vehicle import. Actually, the problem was more serious in Kenya, because once the vehicle would be recognised as over 8-year-old, they are simply not allowed to import that car. Therefore, the importers in Kenya had fought
against the authority by themselves. Of course, we, the suppliers, also
assisted them.

As a result, Kenya’s Ministries, KRA(Kenya Revenue Authority) and
KBS(Kenya Bereau of Standard) have worked together to solve this
problem, and finally decided to judge the year of the cars based on the
information on the documents. Since then, there has been no such trouble
on the same issue in Kenya.

This story gives an idea that there's no solution so long as they
continue checking the seatbelts and other parts.

....Thank you very much indeed for reading such a long story. But I'm
sure this is a serious problem that any of you may also suffer. We have been fighting against this, but as this is an internal problem in this country, something that a foreigner can do is limited. As an outsider, we cannot intervene the country's policy.
Not having good fruit after such a lot of effort, we are feeling as if
we are stucked.

Therefore, now we'll appreciate if you'll give us your ideas and view to
solve this problem.
Once again, thank you very much indeed for your understanding and
assistance to us.

Best regards,

Masao Kuwabara
Autorec Tanzania Limited
E-mail : masao@autorectz.com
 
Kazi kweli kufanya biashara na Tanzania, urasimu mwingi hasa kama hutoi rushwa...ukingalia Richmond ilivyopelekwa fasta utashangaa, anagalia makampuni yaliyoiba pesa BOT mengine yalifanyisha kazi serikali hata siku za mapumziko Jpili, kuna kazi kubwa sana kule bongo maofisini kila idara ya serikali...
 
Dear Customers,

Good day to all of you.
This is Masao Kuwabara of Autorec Tanzania Limited and Yuichi Mizuno
of Autorec Enterprise LTD. Japan.

Thanks to you, we have been operating business in Tanzania with lots of
joy.

But there have been one serious problem that all the exporters, not
only
Autorec, who do business with Tanzania are facing. We have been making
lots of effort to solve the problem, but it still remains in Tanzania.
Today, I'd like to figure out what is happening in Tanzania against
used
vehicle trade. And we'll appreciate a lot if you'll give us your
advices
on this issue.

As all of you are aware, IMPORT REGULATION against used vehicles have
been started in Tanzania since July 2006. Now if one will import used
vehicles whose age is exceeding 10 years, they will be penalised and
charged extra 20% excise duty.

This kind of regulation is found with several more countries. And as a
trader who do business with Tanzania, we respect the country's policy.
We shall not go against it or complain about it.
Therefore, since this policy started, we have been trying to adjust our
stock so that they will meet the demand of customers in Tanzania. Now
you may find many 1999+ vehicles in our stock.

But there's a serious problem with this policy as it has been operated
without clear definition about the AGE OF THE VEHICLES.

Let us share one sample story here.


1) Unreasonable penalties against some importers in Tanzania

Some time ago, one of the customer has bought JZX100 MARK II 1999model.
As this is of year 1999, definitely, the customer didin't have to be
penalised.
However, once the vehicle reached Dar es salaam port, the officers of
Tanzania's Customs have inspected the vehicle phisically, and finally
started saying that this vehicle is manufactured in 1995! They said so
because they found a small label on the vehicle's seatbelt saying
"1995".
While the vehicle had come with the EXPORT CERTIFICATE issued and
authorised by Govenment of Japan and another certificate issued by JAAI
(Japan Automobile Appraisal Institute), both clearly indicates its year
as 1999, Customs office still insist that this vehicle is of 1995 and
thus should be penalised.


2) Manufactured year of seatbelt is not manufactured year of the
vehicle

Actually, I have done some research about the label on the seatbelt
while I was still in Japan. I have communicated with TOKAI RIKA
company,
who is the manufacturer / supplier of the seatbelts for TOYOTA's
products. They told me that the information on the label of the
seatbelt
simply shows the manufactured year of the seatbelt itself!

In heavy industries such as vehicle manufacture, the products are
manufactured by cooperation of several companies so that they can
reduce
the time and cost.
If it is about this MARK II, there should be seatbelt manufacturer,
window screen manufacturer, computer manufacturer, tyre manufacturer,
electric parts manufacturer, head lamp manufactuer, gasket
manufacturer,
tube manufacturer, bolt & nut manufactuer and so on and so forth.
Each manufactured parts will be brought to the warehouse or the factory
of vehicle manufacturers (such as TOYOTA) and then a unit of vehicle
will be assembled there. It is very much possible for some parts to
spend several months or even more than a year before it will be
assembled to a vehicle.
Therefore, NO BODY CAN DEFINE THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE FROM THE SEATBELT
LABEL OR ANY OTHER PARTS OF THE VEHICLES.

Especially, with this JZX100 MARK II, it is totally wrong for them to
insist that this was manufactured in 1995. There's a clear reason to
deny their statement.
Why??? Because TOYOTA STARTED SELLING JZX100 IN LATE 1996!! THEREFORE,
IN 1995, THIS PARTICULAR MODEL DIDN'T EXIST EVEN ON CATALOGUES!!!


3) Definition of the vehicles¡Ç ¡Èage¡É in Japan

Unfortunately, we learnt that there are some misunderstandings among
the
Customs officers at the port about definition about the age of the
vehicles. Once they find the labels on the belts like this, they just
disregard the authorized documents and try to charge additional duty
against importers. And this is totally wrong.

Most of the vehicles we sell originate in Japan. Therefore, we process
the paper work and other arrangements based on the documents published
by the Government of Japan, Government of MANUFACTURERS' COUNTRY.

On this official document called ¡ÈExport Certificate¡É, it only shows
the
YEAR OF FIRST REGISTRATION of the vehicles. There¡Çs no information
about
MANUFACTURED YEAR. This is how they control the product in Japan.
Information of manufactured year of the vehicles are not obtainable.

Both for domestic and oversea market, the used / new vehicles suppliers
do the paper work by using the data on this document because there are
no other official documents to identify the vehicles.

But to the Customs in Tanzania, it looks like this document is not
acceptable.

The differences on the definition of the AGE OF THE VEHICLES between
Tanzania and Japan is creating serious problems.


4) Autorec's efforts to solve this problem

One day, I have seen Commissioner for Customs and Excise face to face
in
his office and discussed about this problem.
Unfortunately, there was no good solution on that day. Commissioner
told
me that this is just a minor problem as these are only a few cases
among
lots of cars. Instead, he promised me that he¡Çs going to solve these
one
by one by communicating with the manufacturers in Japan to know the
actual manufactured year once the same case comes out.

Believing his word, when we had another problem with NISSAN MARCH,
chassis number k11-683281, I asked for his assistance. I was thinking
that he has a special relationship with the manufactures in Japan and
he
can get such information that we can not get from them. However,
instead
of contacting NISSAN MOTORS in Japan, he contacted D.T.Dobbie
(NISSAN¡Çs
distributor in Tanzania). Once D.T.Dobie told him that they don¡Çt deal
in used cars, it was the end of his investigation.
We, Autorec, has contacted NISSAN MOTORS by ourselves, explained the
situation, and finally got a letter from NISSAN to identify the
manufactured year of this unit as an exceptional case (they normally
don't publish such information).
We brought this letter to the Commissioner and we believed that this
will be solved. But I was surprised to know the Commissioner's next
action. Once again, he sent this letter from NISSAN to D.T.Dobbie, and
once again, D.T.Dobbie told him that they don't deal with used cars,
and
once again, it was the end of his investigation!
Why should he communicate with D.T.Dobbie while we brought him the
letter from original manufacturer? This is very much not
understandable.
The case remained unsolved.

On another day, I received a letter from the Commissioner as a reply to
my letters. In that message, he was saying that now he understood that
the year on the seatbelt label is not the year of manufactured year of
the vehicle.
But still then, the people of the Customs are still judging the age of
the vehicle by checking the seatbelts and other small parts.

We have been fighting against this misunderstanding. We have been
sending letters to Commisioner of Customs and Excise again and again.
We
send CC to TBS, TRA, Ministry of Finance, JAAI, Embassy of Tanzania in
Japan and Embassy of Japan in Tanzania. We have been appealing that the
importers in Tanzania should not be charged unfair duties from such a
misunderstanding.
Unfortunately, the Commissioner of Customs is not even replying to our
letters these days. Then we have also sent simillar letter to Parmanent
Secretary of Ministry of Finance. We also got diplomatic support from
Embassy of Japan in Tanzania, Japanese Ambassador has sent an official
letter to Ministry of Finance.

We are hearing that in August 2007, by sending letter to the
Commissioner for Customs and Excise, Ministry of Finance has advised
them to reconsider the definition of the age of the vehicle. But we
haven't seen any changes even after that.

We have been explaing all about this to the people mentioned above and
asking them to reconsider the definition of the age of the vehicle.

In January 2008, I have spoken to the people of Embassy of Japan once
again and asked for some diplomatic assistance because I was feeling
that the authority in this country is not interested to listen to the
voice of one small vehicle supplier.
This time, the First Secretary of Embassy of Japan has met Commissioner
for Customs and Excise by himself and discussed on the same issue.
According to the story I heard from the Secretary, the Commissioner has
understood the situation and promissed that he will work on this to
solve the problem.
Embassy of Japan has wrote an official letter once again to appeal that
the vehicles' age should be defined based on the official documents
because there's nothing else apart from that.


5) Problem for Autorec, the supplier

The issue itself is something between the importers and the Customs in
Tanzania. Therefore, the authority treat us as if we are just
outsiders.
It seems as if they are saying that it is not something that a supplier
like Autorec should interrupt. But the situation doesn¡Çt allow us to
sit
behind.

We explain the nature of these problems to the importers (our
customers)
who actually suffered this problem and advice them to insist against
the
Customs that they have the proper vehicle and official documents. But
instead of fighting against misunderstandings of Customs authority,
some
of them actually turn around and start attacking Autorec, saying that
Autorec has sent fake documents / cars and cheated them! Some of them
even threaten us that they are going to take it a court case or attack
us through media.
This is totally not acceptable because Autorec has done nothing wrong
in
the procedures.

Something more unpleasant for us is the fact that some of the Customs
officers, when they found the seatbelt label which has different
information with the official document, tell the importers that the
supplier (Autorec) has tricked them with forged documents!!! We totally
don't understand why people on a responsible position can say such a
irresponsible word without doing researches!!!! This is like exeucting
someone for guilty without properly checking!!! This is a clear
offensive disturbance to our business.
Or they are making us a scapegoat so that the importers will not
complain against them.

And as you can see, this is not a problem only for Autorec, but for the
used vehicle trade business as a whole.
Indeed, this is actually creating a very negative image not only to our
business but for the customers in Tanzania who intend to import used
vehicles from Japan. While we are shipping the right vehicles in right
procedure with proper documents (authorized by the Government of
manufacturer¡Çs country), some importers misjudge that we are cheating
them. This would be a serious damage to us if they continue doing this.

I understand the anger and disappointment of the importers who are
charged of the penalty of 20% against a vehicle they bought as less
10-year-old cars. But even if they attack us, there¡Çs no solution
because there was nothing wrong on our side.

Therefore, we need a fundamental solution.


6) Similar problem and its solution in Kenya

In Kenya, several years ago, they had the same problem as they also
have
year regulation against used vehicle import.
Actually, the problem was more serious in Kenya, because once the
vehicle would be recognised as over 8-year-old, they are simply not
allowed to import that car. Therefore, the importers in Kenya had
fought
against the authority by themselves. Of course, we, the suppliers, also
assisted them.
As a result, Kenya¡Çs Ministries, KRA(Kenya Revenue Authority) and
KBS(Kenya Bereau of Standard) have worked together to solve this
problem, and finally decided to judge the year of the cars based on the
information on the documents. Since then, there has been no such
trouble
on the same issue in Kenya.

This story gives an idea that there's no solution so long as they
continue checking the seatbelts and other parts.


....Thank you very much indeed for reading such a long story. But I'm
sure this is a serious problem that any of you may also suffer.
We have been fighting against this, but as this is an internal problem
in this country, something that a foreigner can do is limited. As an
outsider, we cannot intervene the country's policy.
Not having good fruit after such a lot of effort, we are feeling as if
we are stucked.
Therefore, now we'll appreciate if you'll give us your ideas and view
to
solve this problem.
Once again, thank you very much indeed for your understanding and
assistance to us.

--
Best regards,
Masao Kuwabara
 
unapo deal na Mtanzania lazima uwe na moyo kwani ni wagumu kuelewa, hasa ktk kipindi hiki ambacho hakuna kuaminiana. waasia wengine (Wachina) wanauza vitu feki, woga umewajaa wa Tanzania kwakuwa tayari tulishabambikiwa mara kibao.

Kuhusu huyo kamishana, anaonekana ni kimeo kweli, nafasi kubwa kama hiyo ilipashwa kukaliwa na mtu makini, mkweli, mwazi, mwajibikaji na mwenye uelewa mpana wa masuala ya magari. sasa huyo kamishana hajua hata tofauti ya second hand cars na zile za D.T Dobie. Fire him out the office.
 
kwanza serikali ingekuwa makini ingejua kuwa wwanaofaidika na hizo pesa za kudanganya ni wengine tu kwani mara nyingi watu wanamalizanaa na hao wahuni bandarini. Lakini ukweli kwamba TRA hasa wale jamaa wanaofanya physical checking ni wahuni sana sababu huwezi kujudge gari kwa kutumia mikanda. Yaani upeo wa uelewa uko zero kwa wale jamaa ingawa wamesomeshwa kwa kodi za watanzania.
 
ukweli kwamba TRA hasa wale jamaa wanaofanya physical checking ni wahuni sana sababu huwezi kujudge gari kwa kutumia mikanda. Yaani upeo wa uelewa uko zero kwa wale jamaa ingawa wamesomeshwa kwa kodi za watanzania.

Nakubaliana na wewe kabisa SEMANAO, maana kwa kutumia kigezo cha mkanda...hawa jamaa wameonyesha upeo wa chini kabisa katika kazi zao na inabidi waondolewe mara moja kutokana na kuonyesha kiwango cha chini kabisa cha utendaji wa kazi zao. Lakini pia mimi nadhani hawa jamaa wanafanya makusudi kabisa hivi vitendo vyao wakijua kwamba lebo ya kwenye mkanda haimaanishi kwamba gari ndio imetengenezwa muda huo....sema wana-take advantage kujipatia kipato ambacho sio sahihi kwa njia za udanganyifu. Hii tabia inabidi ikomeshwe kabisa ukizingatia mtu unakuwa umejibana na unaagiza gari lako kwa taabu kabisa halafu unakutana na hao wahuni wa hali ya juu ambao wanakumaliza kabisa. Magari mapya wa-Tz wa kawaida hatuwezi kununua maana hizo bei hatuwezi kuzimudu. inaudhi sana hii tabia. Pale Bandarini kunanuka rushwa kuanzia unapoingia kwenye Gate mpaka mwisho.
 
Pale Bandarini kunanuka rushwa kuanzia unapoingia kwenye Gate mpaka mwisho.


Ile study group ya wakenya iliyosema kuwa bandari Dar ni No.1 kwa Rushwa watu tuliona kama wanaleta ubinafsi but in real sense walikuwa sawa kabisa. Wale wafanyakazi wa TRA na sehemu nyingine wanapopangwa kituo cha bandarini basi ndoto ya kuwa masikini kwa njia haramu huwa imetimia. Nafikiri serikali inajua kabisa kuwa bandarini si sehemu user friendly hasa kwa watu wa kipato cha chini ambao wamejikusanya kununua vigari used. Kazi ipo.
 
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