LATRA contributes 14bn/- to govt coffers

DAR ES SALAAM: THE Land Transport Regulatory Authority (LATRA)’s revenue has increased by 32 per cent in three years, contributing 14.12bn/- to the consolidated fund.

According to the authority’s  report,  LATRA revenue increased from 25.95bn/- in 2020/2021 to 34.17 bn/- in 2022/23 financial year before being audited by the Controller and Auditor General (CAG)), an increase equivalent to 32 per cent.

Speaking on Thursday in Dar es Salaam during a working session between journalists, editors and LATRA officials, an event coordinated by the Treasury Registrar (TR) office, the authority Director General, CPA Habibu Suluo said the success was due to the commitment by the sixth phase government to enhance the performance of the authority.

He added that President Samia Suluhu Hassan created a conducive environment for LATRA to manage and regulate the sector, particularly land transport.

LATRA’s revenue has been increasing annually, saying the revenue increased from 25.945 bn/- in 2020/21 to 28.53 bn/- in 2021/22 financial year, which is an increase of 2.58 bn/-, equivalent to 10 per cent.

Adding: “In 2021/22 to 2022/23 financial years, the authority’s revenue increased from 28.53 bn/- to 34.17 bn/- (before being audited by the CAG) which is an increase of 5.64 bn/- equivalent to 20 per cent.”

The LATRA boss revealed that in the past three years, investment in transport sector in the country has continued to improve as the authority issued more than 40,000 new licenses.

“From 2020/21 to 2022/23, the number of transport licenses issued by the authority increased from 230,253 to 284,158, an increase equivalent to 18.4 per cent,” he underlined.

Moreover, he said that the authority made great strides in the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) where the authority now uses various systems such as the Railway and Road Information Management System (RRIMS) and the Vehicles Tracking System (VTS).

He also added that the authority also uses e-Ticketing System, LATRA Application System (LATRA App), e-Mrejesho System and the National e-Procurement System of Tanzania (NeST), pledging to continue improving the systems.

“Since the introduction of the VTS, LATRA has been successful in many aspects including significantly reducing road accidents caused by speeding and simplifying the investigation of accidents when they occur,” LATRA DG said.

He also said VTS also identifies the driver on the wheel through the driver identification button (I – Button), which is directly connected to the VTS system.

In particular he said,  this financial year, the authority has been able to establish a customer service center that operates 24 hours to facilitate the provision of services to customers to facilitate timely solving of disputes and other challenges.

“We established the call centre to facilitate timely solving of disputes and other challenges, asking the public to dial a free number 0800110019 and 0800110019 for further assistance in case they face any challenge related to overland transport,” he underlined.

Speaking on regulating cable transport in the country, Ag Director Railway Regulation at LATRA, Hanya Mbawala said the authority is currently developing regulations to allow investors to invest in the sub-sector.

LATRA is a government regulatory authority established by the Act of Parliament No. 3 of 2019. The Act repelled the act of the former regulator, Surface and Marine Transport Regulatory Authority (SUMATRA).

The Authority is set to regulate the land transport sectors particularly, transportation of goods and passengers (commuter buses, intercity buses, goods carrying vehicles, taxis, motorcycles and tricycles), railways and cable transport.