Minister for Transport Dr Harrison Mwakyembe

Minister for Transport Dr Harrison Mwakyembe yesterday sent a strong warning to the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) officials against malpractices going on in its ports, particularly Dar es Salaam Habour.

The warning comes in the wake of punitive measures taken by his leadership against some officials at the Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL). However, some people have described the minister‘s decision against the officials as controversial.

Mwakyembe issued the warning yesterday during a CCM public rally held at Jangwani grounds where several ministers to briefly outline achievements recorded by the government.

The warning, by all standards, leaves Dar es Salaam port officials seated on the edge of the knife following Mwakyembe claims that the port has been turned into ‘supermarket for trading on car spare parts.’

“I’m so disappointed with such a situation, I want them to be prepared, I don’t want to be blamed later on, because I will punish them,” Mwakyembe insisted.

He said he is intentionally delaying to visit the ports, but he declared he will fire those practicing bad business at TPA even though some them think they have strong roots in the authority.

Mwakyembe said the government will never accept to be transit for more than six countries yet it does not benefit ‘because of few people.’

Meanwhile, he promised that Tanzania will see a stable at ATCL within a short time.

He also warned Dar es Salaam public service bus owners who illegally and randomly increase bus fares and urged them to follow laid down procedure if they want to raise the fare.

“I shall punish those who don’t follow the procedure and they have no where to run from the punishment,” he warned, appealing to commuters to report to him if necessary through his mobile phone, by identifying the bus number, its route and the unofficial fares they were charged.

Mwakyembe also promised his audience that train commuter services would soon be greatly improved and thereby improve the national economy.

He said plans were underway to build a train station at Ubungo as well as stabilising the Tanzania and Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) line.

Also speaking during the CCM public rally, Minister for Work Dr John Magufuli said two pantons have been bought for transportation of passengers from Bagamoyo to Kivukoni as a way of reducing traffic congestion Dar es Salaam.

He said a total of one billion shillings has been used to buy the panton to operate the route.