ZIMBABWEAN President Emmerson Mnangagwa has lauded the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) for efficiency and quality of port services for neighboring countries, including Zimbabwe.

President Mnangagwa made the remarks over the weekend when visiting the pavilions of participants at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), themed: “Innovation: The Catalyst to Industrialisation and Trade.”

While at the TPA Pavilion, President Mnangagwa was informed about services offered by the Dar es Salaam Port, from Kulthum Boma, the TPA representative in Zimbabwe, and the president lauded TPA plans to further strengthen Zimbabwe's vehicle cargo transport service at the port

Joy Makumbe, the Transport and Infrastructural Development secretary general (permanent secretary) said there has been a significant increase in trade between the two nations, especially in car shipments through the Dar es Salaam port, underlining steps being taken to address existing challenges to traders using Dar port.

Simon Sirro, Tanzania’s envoy to Zimbabwe, had earlier explained that the business community in Zimbabwe is satisfied with the services provided by the Dar es Salaam port, urging it to work closely with the Embassy in order to facilitate economic diplomacy.

Tanzania and Zimbabwe have agreed to address challenges hindering the growth of business in the Dar es Salaam corridor, with TPA implementing expansion projects, constructing berths number 12 to 15. It is utilising an area previously used by the Export Processing Zone Authority (EPZA) to build a large car yard, he stated.

With improved bilateral relations, TPA opened its offices in the capital, Harare, to bring the port closer to its customers to efficiently facilitate trade between the two countries, he said.

Transport minister Prof Makame Mbarawa had similarly noted that TPA has adjusted itself to ensure the port contributes more to national income by obtaining markets in neighbouring countries.

“We need to provide high-quality services in order to withstand competition and make Tanzanian ports the preferred choice for shippers in the southern Africa region,” he stated.

Plasduce Mbossa, the TPA director general, said TPA sees the Zimbabwean market as crucial. It is thus directing its efforts to identify and taking up available opportunities, he added.