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Tanzanian PM vets forwarders' corruption charges against port officials
TANZANIA's Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa has held a closed-door meeting with representatives of the Tanzania Freight Forwarders Association (TAFFA) to discuss allegations of corruption against the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) that is impacting container shipping.
TAFFA members have accused TPA officials of manipulation of computer records at the port, claiming the action has denied the government billions of shillings in revenue, and the blame is alleged to have been shifted to other stakeholders, including forwarders, reported the national Daily News.
TAFFA chairman Stephen Ngatunga had sought a meeting with the prime minister to find a lasting solution to the forwarders' problems, describing "sickening corrupt practices by technicians at the IT section of TPA", a "hatchery of swindlers," where young technicians allegedly tampered with computer operations to steal billions of shillings, the Daily News reported.
Mr Ngatunga alleged that the IT people colluded with dishonest bankers to steal money on a regular basis and pass the blame to agents, adding that there was no way a freight forwarder agent could move a container from the port without a release order, after verification of payments.
The association's members have repeatedly complained that they are forced to make "double payments" to avoid sanctions against their companies. The prime minister has requested the TAFFA submit evidence of the alleged "double payments" demanded by port officials.
TAFFA members have accused TPA officials of manipulation of computer records at the port, claiming the action has denied the government billions of shillings in revenue, and the blame is alleged to have been shifted to other stakeholders, including forwarders, reported the national Daily News.
TAFFA chairman Stephen Ngatunga had sought a meeting with the prime minister to find a lasting solution to the forwarders' problems, describing "sickening corrupt practices by technicians at the IT section of TPA", a "hatchery of swindlers," where young technicians allegedly tampered with computer operations to steal billions of shillings, the Daily News reported.
Mr Ngatunga alleged that the IT people colluded with dishonest bankers to steal money on a regular basis and pass the blame to agents, adding that there was no way a freight forwarder agent could move a container from the port without a release order, after verification of payments.
The association's members have repeatedly complained that they are forced to make "double payments" to avoid sanctions against their companies. The prime minister has requested the TAFFA submit evidence of the alleged "double payments" demanded by port officials.
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