Stakeholders have expressed concern
over numerous roadblocks in some parts of the country which leads to
higher costs of doing business.
For
example, the number of roadblocks has been reduced to almost 14 from 54
on the highway from Dar es Salaam to Rusumo in Kagera Region, covering a
distance of more than 1,200 kms.
However, between Mutukula and Bukoba
municipality, a distance of 80 kms, there are nine roadblocks.
Speaking
during the recent visits to Mutukula border post, the Tanzania Exporters
Association (TANEXA) Executive Director, Mr Mtemi Laurence, said they
have been receiving complaints from business people due to harassment
from government officials in the roadblocks.
He said the presence of the barriers
from Mutukula to Bukoba was encouraging corrupt practices for business
people get allowed to pass in the roadblocks.
“From Mutukula and Bukoba,
there are nine roadblocks while from the border to Kampala, Uganda
there is only one barrier,” he stated.
The Chairman of Tanzania Bus Owners
Association (TABOA) Bukoba District, Mr Mwesigwa Kazaula, said some
officials of the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) at Mutukula and Kyaka
border posts have been causing unnecessary disturbances to transporters
of cargo and passengers.
He said some TRA officials have been
imposing unspecified taxes and sometimes illegally fined people. TRA
Kagera Regional Manager, Mr Leonard Shija, said officials at the two
border posts of Mutukula and Kyaka were operating professionally.
However, he said if such complaints are proved, disciplinary measures
will be imposed against such officials.
Source: The Daily News, www.dailynews.co.tz, reported from Daily News
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