Tanzania is eyeing more port business from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with an offer of exclusive transit clearance for cargo, signalling more competition with neighbours Kenya for the lucrative market.

This week, a delegation of DRC businesspeople and Customs officials toured Dar es Salaam and Tanga ports, assessing the offers and the business environment including tariffs and clearance times.

At the Kwala Dry Port, there is 10-hectare area allocated for handling DRC cargo passing through the Dar es Salaam. Most of the cargo to DRC’s eastern regions passes through Kenya’s Mombasa port. Tanzania’s refurbished Dar port and the new Tanga Port are expected to raise the tempo of rivalry.

The DR Congo delegation was led by the Director of Customs and Excise Rene Kalala Masimango.

Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) Property Manager Alexander Ndibalema said that the dry port that is located outside Dar es Salaam city would reduce congestion at Dar by 30 per cent and increase government revenue through the cargo served at the port. It will handle such cargo as cars and other solid imports mostly on transit to neighbouring Burundi, Rwanda, DR Congo, Uganda, Zambia and Malawi.
Dar es Salaam port handled about three million tonnes of DR Congo transit cargo, according to TPA. By APOLINARI TAIRO, The East African