Twenty officers drawn from the Customs Division of the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) and the Tanzania Port Authority (TPA) are undergoing a five-day Tanzania- China supported training in a bid to tighten port security.

The five-day programme is meant to sharpen their understandings and capacity to handle container scanners currently installed at the Dar es Salaam port.

A statement issued by TPA said that the officers taking part in the training in sharpening their knowledge and skills come from Dar es Salaam and Tanga.

“I praise the governments of China and Tanzania for embarking on this programme.

We expect this training will increase capacity to the custom officers to undertake their duties more efficiently and thus increase revenue collections,” TPA Director General Kakoko said.

He said the trainees would also be able to verify details contained in the container and relate with the Bill of Lading documents. He said it was vital for the officers to verify government trophies, illegal arms, illicit drugs, and other products prohibited to be shipped through the ports.

The training is being conducted by Nuctech Limited engineers.

The company had already installed the scanners at Tanga and Dar es Salaam ports. Project Manager Zhang Sheng said the project was complete and currently they were undertaking training on how to operate the new scanners to allow the facility to be operated by locals. He said the new scanners can scan and print live images of cargo directly to systems installed at TPA and TRA.

Completion of the project follows directives from President John Magufuli during his tour of Dar es Salaam Port. His directive was meant to ensure the two authorities oversee collection of government revenues.

Source: All Africa

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