Dar es Salaam — A
new tax audit at several Inland Container Depots (ICDs) has revealed
that at least 11,884 containers and 2,019 vehicles were cleared from the
Dar es Salaam Port without their due taxes being collected.
This scam denied the government Sh48.4 billion in revenue.
The revelation was
made yesterday by the newly appointed minister for Works, Transport and
Communications, Prof Makame Mbarawa, when he visited the port in a
continued crackdown on tax evasion.
Seven workers of
the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) responsible for collection of wharf-age charges (port charges paid by shipping agents) and ICDs have
been arrested over the alleged loss. Eight other TPA workers are
reported to have disappeared after realising that investigation over the
scam has zeroed in on them.
Mr Mbarawa's visit
at the port comes barely a month after Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa
made impromptu visits at the port and discovered Sh80 billion for
importation of over 349 containers could not be accounted for by the
Taxman.
The PM's visit also
unearthed shocking losses of government revenue perpetuated by ICDs
officials who colluded with their TPA and TRA counterparts. It was then
discovered that containers destined for ICDs were cleared from the port
without their due taxes being first collected.
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