For lorries on the loose, Dar roads aren’t parking lots

DAR ES SSALAAM: IF you have ever driven through Dar es Salaam or the surrounding residential areas lately, you’ve probably noticed something quite frustrating and that is roadsides blocked by long lines of lorries and trucks, containers stacked high and traffic crawling slower than a snail on a Sunday stroll.

It is as if the city has turned into a giant parking lot for cargo vehicles.

Enough is enough! The launch of the Kwala Dry Port in the Coast Region is a golden opportunity to finally clear up this mess, and it is high time everyone gets on board with President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s directive to shift container operations away from Dar es Salaam’s congested streets.

The Kwala Dry Port, sprawling across 502 hectares and located conveniently 90 kilometres from Dar es Salaam harbour, is designed precisely to tackle this chaos.

It is a modern inland port with the capacity to handle up to 300,000 containers annually, nearly 30 per cent of what Dar es Salaam’s port manages now.

This is not just a fancy warehouse; it’s a game-changer.

By relocating container clearance and cargo handling to Kwala, we can finally ease the unbearable traffic jams and the associated pollution choking our city.

Yet, despite this clear solution, lorries and trucks stubbornly continue to park along our roadsides, often in residential neighbour hoods where people just want peace, not the constant roar of diesel engines and the risk of accidents.

Let us call it what it is- a nuisance, a hazard and frankly, a disregard for public order.

President Samia’s call was unambiguous: Move container operations immediately to Kwala.

This is not a polite suggestion, it is a directive backed by strategic planning and the country’s development vision.

Government agencies, the Tanzania Ports Authority, transport companies and all stakeholders must collaborate swiftly and decisively.

There is no room for delays or excuses. Every day that containers linger in Dar es Salaam’s streets is a day lost to productivity, safety and the well-being of residents.

Moreover, the government’s vision to develop industries around Kwala means jobs and wealth creation are just around the corner.

Women and people living with disabilities should also be encouraged to tap into these emerging markets.

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The dry port’s development is not only about cargo but about inclusive economic growth.

It is simple: If you are a truck owner, driver, cargo handler or anyone involved in freight logistics, park those lorries at Kwala, not on our streets.

If you are a local authority official, expedite permits, inspections and support for smooth operations at the dry port.

If you are a young entrepreneur, don’t sit on the sidelines, explore the booming opportunities Kwala brings.

If you are a citizen tired of daily traffic nightmares, raise your voice and demand enforcement of this much-needed shift.

Dar es Salaam deserves streets free of parked containers and endless truck queues. Our communities deserve safer, cleaner and less congested neighbourhoods.

Tanzania deserves efficient ports that boost trade, jobs and national progress.

Final Word: Tanzanians, the Kwala Dry Port is more than just infrastructure; it is a chance to reclaim our roads, boost our economy and open doors for the future. Let us embrace it, fast, fair and with full force!