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Sumatra operations in Z’bar ’illegal’
2006-11-09 08:40:16
By Pascal Shao, Dodoma
The government said in Parliament yesterday that the Surface and Marine Transport and Regulatory Authority (SUMATRA) is operating in Zanzibar illegally.
Deputy Minister for Infrastructure Development Dr Makongoro Mahanga made the remarks when responding to a question asked by Fatma Maghimbi (Chake Chake, CUF).
Mahanga said that Sumatra started its operations in the Isles in 2004, by succeeding Tanzania Central Freight Bureau (TCFB) and assuming its responsibilities.
He said that in October 1998, the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar (SMZ) allowed TCFB to work in the Isles and received all the blessings from the government of the United Republic of Tanzania.
”Since the TCFB activities were assumed by Sumatra, all the TCFB activities in the Isles continue to be performed by Sumatra,” he said.
Mahanga added that the September 25, 2006 meeting between SMZ and Sumatra agreed that because Zanzibar had no established regulatory authority, Sumatra would continue its services until Zanzibar had its own body.
The minister said Sumatra was waiting for further directives from SMZ and was operating in the Isles according to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) agreement.
He mentioned the activities as regulating safety of marine vessels between Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar and Pemba, and advising the SMZ on improvement of Zanzibar port services so as to attract businesspeople and ship owners.
Mahanga said that revenue collected by Sumatra at the Zanzibar port was used for paying office costs, salaries, government taxes and funding SMZ corporate social responsibilities.
He said that in 2004/05, Sumatra paid 29, 367,360/- for salaries and 847,044/- for stamp duty. Corporate social responsibility amounted to 4,241,100/-.
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