DP World hasn’t started operation at Dar Port, clarifies TPA

A statement from the TPA’s directorate of marketing and relations availed to the media yesterday stated that all port management activities are still managed by the authority and when DPW will start operation at the port, the public will be informed officially.

It stated that even when DPW starts operating at the Port of Dar es Salaam, the wharfage fee will continue to be TPA’s income in accordance with the agreement entered between the two sides.

According to the statement, the wharfage is currently collected through the Tanzania Customs Integrated System (TANCIS) which is under the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) and will continue to be the same even after DPW starts operating at the port.

The statement noted that for domestic cargo, the wharfage fee is charged for the value of the cargo (Custom Value) whose rate is 1.6 percent for the cargo in the container as well as the cargo that is not in the container (Loose Cargo).

It stated that the on-transit cargo, which is not in a container (Loose Cargo), is charged by weight or volume at the rate of $3. For transit cargo in containers it is charged at $ 90 dollars for a 20 feet and $180 for a 40 feet container.

“Using the argument of our customer who spread his complaint on social networks at the end of this week, it is clear that the cargo he is talking about was domestic (Local cargo) which is charged by value,” it said.

The statement further noted that the fees are charged through the system without human intervention, so there is no possibility of making a mistake due to charging the customer more or less than the required amount according to the value of his cargo.

The authority wanted if there is a customer who has a complaint, to submit them to the Port Director’s office so that a quick solution can be provided.

“TPA uses this opportunity to emphasize to customers, stakeholders and the general public that information about TPA provided without verification by TPA itself is a deliberate misrepresentation with malicious intent to tarnish the Authority's good reputation,” it added.

The statement claimed that there are people who want to undermine the great efforts made by the Government to strengthen the economy through the activities of the Port.

“The Authority continues with procedures to take appropriate action against all the perpetrators of such actions,” read part of the statement.