Probe TPA, TRA and banks, freight forwarders charge

13Feb 2016
Aisia Rweyemamu
News
The Guardian
Probe TPA, TRA and banks, freight forwarders charge

The ban imposed by Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) on 210 clearing and forwarding firms on the ground of tax evasion has taken a dramatic twist after owners of the firms alleged that TPA, banks and Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) officials colluded to steal government revenue they paid.

TAFFA President Stephen Ngatunga remained adamant that dues amounting to Sh48.2bn claimed by TPA as still outstanding had already been paid, but some unscrupulous officials in the three institutions had manipulated the figures to defame the firms.

“We have had effective communication with minister for Works, Transport and Communication Prof. Makame Mbarawa and presented our case. We told the minister about our wish to have a joint session with officials from TRA, TPA and banks to expose their ills,” Ngatunga said.

“We also requested the minister to meanwhile lift the ban for resumption of our activities, bearing in mind that there is much cargo awaiting clearance at the port, which will generate revenue for the government. Since February 9, 2016 we (firms) have been out of work,” he added.

According to Ngatunga, the minister proposed the formation of a probe committee to verify the payments as maintained by TAFFA. The committee will draw members from the police, national security and TAFFA itself.

“We have all the supporting documents to show that all the dues were paid. Besides, there is no way one can possibly move cargo from the port area without paying for it. TPA is actually shifting the blame to cover their ills,” Ngatunga alleged during a media briefing in Dar es Salaam yesterday.

TAFFA Vice-President Edward Urio told the Guardian that they requested the minister to form an independent commission to investigate the scandal, adding that they proposed the team to include officials from Surface and Marine Transport Regulatory Authority (SUMATRA), Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA), police and intelligence service.

According to the TPA-imposed ban, the blacklisted clearing and forwarding companies will also not be allowed to operate with TPA associates, including Tanzania International Container Terminal Services Ltd (TICTS), Inland Container Depots (ICDs) and Cargo and Freight Stations (CFSs).

Last December the government unveiled the theft of 11,884 containers from ICDs and 2,019 vehicles from CFSs which were cleared at the Dar es Salaam port without having paid government revenue.

The containers and vehicles were cleared without paying wharfage between July 2014 and April 2015, occasioning loss in revenue to both the government and TPA amounting to more than Sh48.5bn.

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