After weeks of criticism, the Dar es Salaam port is finally receiving some compliments for its performance and the subsequent impact it has had on the economy of the Democratic Republic of Congo the leading user of the facility followed by Zambia.
Businessmen from the DRC are praising the Dar es Salaam Port as well as the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) for improved efficiency which has occasioned significant rise of their country’s economy.
The compliments were issued yesterday by a special delegation from the DRC commissioned by the country’s Revenue Authority Commissioner General. The communiqué came during celebrations to mark the one year memorial since inking the first agreement to establish the Congo custom service in Tanzania.
Speaking in Dar es salaam yesterday on behalf of the DRC Revenue Authority, the Commissioner General and the traders, the Deputy Commissioner DRC Custom Representative Officer, Peter Mulishu said since the signing of the agreement their country’s revenue has increased drastically.
“Thanks to the agreement we are enjoying increased revenue…the Dar es Salaam Port services and TRA are both performing very efficiently. This is why the DR Congo Revenue Authority, Commissioner General has deployed this delegation to congratulate you,’’ said the Deputy Commissioner.
So impressed is the DRC that they are planning to send students into the country to pursue studies the TRA operations.
“We also need to visit the Tanzania revenue schools… we are looking into the possibility of bringing some of our people to study here,” he said noting that currently they are forced to send them to Germany which is considerably expensive.
Responding, TRA Deputy Commissioner General, Rished Bade assured the DRC delegation that services will only improve for the better and that they can be assured of continued increased revenue for efficiency is the authority’s goal.
He acknowledged that by partnering with the other countries TRA and the Dar Port have been able to reduce obstacles that slow the logistics process. He urged other countries to also establish the Customs offices in the country to ease transactions.
“Previously there were a lot of complaints since there was nobody to coordinate their businesses in the country but now because they have the DRC Custom representative offices here, they are enjoying good results,’’ he said.
Bade also dismissed as rumours, reports that Rwanda and Uganda are planning to move from Dar es Salaam port. He made it clear that TRA has not received any official communication from the said countries.
By Malela Kassim, IPP Media