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Containers held at Dar Port not loaded with logs, says ministry
2006-04-12 07:44:15
By Peter Tindwa
About 15 containers held at Dar es Salaam Port are not loaded with banned logs as earlier reported, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism has clarified.
Leading the inspection team at Tanzania International Container Terminal Services Ltd at the port on Monday, acting Director of Forestry and Beekeeping, Dominic Kihwele, said a thorough inspection was mounted by experts from his ministry and customs officials to verify earlier claims about the content of the containers.
’’The containers are loaded with timber not logs,’’ Kihwele said, adding that exportation of timber was legal.
He said the ban imposed by the ministry was for exportation of logs.
’’Our inspection established that all the timber in the containers have allowable measurements as per the current directive,’’ he said.
He also said the Forests Act number 14 of 2002 permits forestry experts from the government, especially those of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism to inspect containers and vehicles loaded with forestry products.
The Director of Mbagala Saw Mill, who is transporter of 15 containers, Anil Kumar, told The Guardian that all regulations and procedures on exportation of timbers were adhered to before loading the goods into the containers.
’’We followed all government instructions. But the ministry might have received false information on our consignments,’’ Kumar stated. He added that the containers were loaded with 2,697 pieces of timber.
According to Kumar, the pieces of timber were destined for China.
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