By Bilham Kimati,
VANDALISM of the newly installed offshore
single-point mooring (SPM) facility which was meant to speed up
offloading of tankers to ease congestion at the port of Dar es Salaam
has made possible pilferage of more than 20,000 litres of diesel on
daily basis.
Over US Dollar 60 million worth facility with a well connected
pipeline system can accommodate vessels up to 150,000 dwt carrying
either crude oil or diesel. The Minister for Transport, Dr Harrison
Mwakyembe who had audience on Saturday with the management and workers
of the Tanzania Port Authority (TPA) showed photos to prove the massive
cheat and called for immediate identification and arrest of the
suspects.
"Among the suspects is a European who undoubtedly collaborated with
technicians to siphon fuel from the pipeline. This is unacceptable and
all behind the scam must be booked," Mwakyembe ordered.
Clarifying on the matter, the minister who was accompanied by the
newly appointed Permanent Secretary to the ministry, Dr Shaban Mjaka,
said last week port security guards laid ambush against the crooked
party.
"It was discovered that some members of a security company which has
entered into contract with Tiper were found at scene (SPM) and ran away.
They dropped guns and disappeared.
The names and photographs of the suspects must reach my office by
Monday noon. We (ministry) will put their pictures on newspapers to make
sure that they are arrested forthwith," the minister said.
He had more: "Tiper must terminate the contract with the security
company immediately. All suspects must be charged with economic
sabotage. I want to know who their associates are. It is painful to
learn that some self-centred individuals spend sleepless nights to plan
how to swindle the national resources instead of helping to develop the
nation," he observed.
The minister, however, commended TPA workers for restoring the spirit
of patriotism and trust on services offered at the port. "Someone asked
me what happened at TPA as discipline and commitment in building the
nation has been restored. I said the workers are determined to make a
difference as the management improves their remunerations," he said.
Commenting on lack of floating dock for maintenance of marine
vessels, the minister said deliberate efforts should be made to make
sure that the Dar es Salaam port is furnished with an engineering
workshop to service boats.
"It is shameful to continue using Mombasa port for maintenance of
marine vessels from Tanzania. If this is done to benefit some
untrustworthy individuals, this must be the end of the practice," he
insisted.
He also spoke strongly against the idea of hiring foreign experts to
take positions at the port which could accommodate equally skilled local
counterparts.
The Acting General Manager of TPA, Mr Madeni Kipande assured the
minister of careful screening of workers to suit different positions
giving priority to Tanzanians.
Among the remunerations that TPA has extended to the workers include
transport allowance amounting to 200,000/-, meal allowance 150,000/- in
addition to payment offered for extra job done on week days, weekends
and public holidays.
Finally, Dr Mwakyembe said he was very much disturbed by news about
friction within the TPA Board of Directors suspecting that such
misunderstanding would undermine efficiency that the port has started to
enjoy.
"You have nothing to worry about. I have 'a strong cement' to bridge
the rift within the Board. We have no time for disagreements but we want
to serve this nation with diligence," Mwakyembe insisted Mr Athuman
Mkangara, the chairman of Dock Workers Union of Tanzania (DOWUTA)
thanked the minister for the visit and the time taken to listen to
workers air their grudges for amicable resolve and benefit of all
workers and the nation at large