Crackdown on Tanzanias dumb ports

Work to tighten regulations is expected to better manage the flow of goods in and out of the country, TPA director General Deusdedit told The Guardian. The initiative will also process undocumented people arriving at these dumb ports.

“The 150 points of entry meet the criteria for formalisation. Customs officials will be deployed there to control entry and exit of people and goods as well as collect government revenue,” said General Deusdedit.

Lake and sea port managers are currently finalising the submission of names of dumb port locations to be presented to the government for approval.

Goods moving in and out of dumb ports upset revenue projections and disturb the market by landing untaxed goods, sold at significantly lower prices than taxed goods.

Stakeholders say that the illegal entry points contribute to the collapse of local industries, owing to the dumping of merchandise from various locations, plus resistance to formalise many illegal points of entry.

The TPA estimates that there may be over 400 illegal ports in Tanzania.