IN a move aimed at boosting efficiency, the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA), has outlined plans to enable dry ports to operate 24 hours a day to reduce cargo clearance delays and enhance Tanzania’s competitiveness among major regional ports.

Yusuph Mwenda, the TRA commissioner general, made this affirmation at meeting with inland container depots (ICDs) operators in Dar es Salaam yesterday, asking them to support round-the-clock operations as TRA increase staffing levels.

ICD operators will be required to upgrade their infrastructure to match extended working hours, he said, asserting that ICD operators are key partners. “When you grow, our revenue grows. When you fail, we fail. Cooperation is critical to ensuring that TRA and depot operators meet their objectives,” he said.

Melleck Shangwe, the Inland Container Depots Association (ICDA) chairman, said the meeting provided a platform for operators to air their concerns, noting that ICDs provide 52 percent of customs revenues.

If existing operational challenges are addressed, the suib-sector could increase its contribution to 60 percent in the next financial year, he said, citing confusion in documentation requirements with the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) vis a vis the TRA.

This is a major bottleneck as while TPA requires submission of documents before cargo arrival, TRA procedures often demand the physical presence of cargo before processing documentation, he stated.

Appealing for harmonisation of procedures, he said this would streamline operations, minimise delays and improve efficiency across the logistics chain, with the meeting concluding with expressions of commitment to closer collaboration to safeguard revenue collection and strengthen the transit trade infrastructure.

The TRA CEO on the other hand warned that some ICD operators are evading taxes through various schemes, pledging firm action to curb the malpractice, as TRA is aware of irregularities taking place at certain depots and will take decisive steps to ensure full compliance with tax laws.

“We will meet to hear your challenges and explain ours. We are aware of what is happening at certain ICDs, including instances of tax evasion, and we will take decisive action to end these practices,” he declared.

TRA will introduce quarterly consultations with depot operators to address operational concerns while strengthening oversight mechanisms to prevent revenue leakages, he stated, underlining that ICD operators need to ensure effective delegation of decision-making authority on the spot if they are absent. 

Poor supervision can disrupt operations and compromise compliance with regulatory requirements, he added.