THE ruling party CCM top brass has embarked on a countrywide mission to educate the public on the port agreement between the government and Emirate of Dubai, clarifying that it will deliver positive results.
Speaking at Mkendo Grounds in Musoma Region, on Wednesday CCM’s Vice-Chairman (Mainland), Abdulrahman Kinana, assured the people that the port agreement is for the country’s benefit.
“I want to assure you that President Samia Suluhu Hassan cannot allow the government to enter into an agreement that is not in the interest of the nation,” he pointed out.
Mr Kinana further said that the government is going to enter into an agreement with the good intention of increasing efficiency at the facility and income of the citizens to enable the country implement more development activities.
In June this year, the National Assembly unanimously approved the Inter-governmental Agreement (IGA) between Tanzania and Emirate of Dubai concerning the Economic and Social Partnership for the Development and Improving Performance of Sea and Lake Ports in the country.
The agreement between Tanzania and Emirate of Dubai is a framework for the implementation of the specific projects.
Clarifying the scope of cooperation in the (IGA) recently, the leader of the negotiation team on the ongoing discussions, Mr Hamza Johari said that under the agreement, the Dubai based – multinational logistics company DP World will handle eight (8) per cent of the port’s operations.
Mr Hamza, who is also the Director General of Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA), said agreements to be signed later will include the Host Government Agreements (HGA), which entails details of the contract to be followed by the Concessions Agreements and Leasing Agreement.
Elaborating, Comrade Kinana said that CCM had directed the government to receive and listen to every piece of advice that will be issued by the citizens.
“The government under President Samia Suluhu Hassan is listening because a good leader is the one who listens to the various arguments made by the people, but to be precise, there is no ill will whatsoever in this agreement, because the aim is to improve efficiency at the Dar es Salaam Port, which is the country’s main gateway,” he said.
Earlier in Kigoma, CCM Secretary General, Daniel Chongolo underscored that Dar es Salaam Port agreement is one of the implementations of 2020/2025 CCM’s election manifesto for the benefit of Tanzanians.
He said that section 22 of the CCM manifesto directs the government to prioritise involving the private sector in developing and building the country’s economy.
“Section 59 of manifesto gives instructions to the government regarding specific areas of investment and increasing productivity in our ports and the beneficiaries of this desired productivity, who are Tanzanians,” he said.
On his part, former Deputy Minister of Agriculture in the first phase Government under President Julius Nyerere, Mr Steven Wasira, who also served in the successive regimes said the port agreement is not the first one to be signed by the government, adding that since independence, the State signed various contracts for the development of the country.
He noted that despite entering into agreement with the Emirate of Dubai, they cannot come to operate the port without having a company with shares that can involve various people including Tanzanians at the grassroots.
“This agreement is only a framework for the work to be done and it can be amended, so the government welcomes the opinions of the citizens in the part they feel needs to be altered,” he said.
Recently, President Samia Suluhu Hassan said at the State House that prolonged debate on who should operate the Dar es Salaam Port is delaying the country’s development as competitors are taking advantage to execute their ideas.
President Samia warned that there is a serious consequence to the nation over wasted time in prolonged dialogues and arguments in such deals.
The Head of State emphasised on the importance of taking opportunities seriously and working on them on time.
In late June, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa urged Tanzanians not to be divided by different opinions appertaining to the IGA between Tanzania and the Emirate of Dubai.
Instead, he called on members of the public to support the government, assuring the citizenry that it was treading carefully, while approaching the issue that has lately hit the headlines.
“Let’s desist from any sort of opinions or views that will likely split the country apart, on political, ethnical and religious lines,” explained the PM, who also doubles as the leader of the government activities in the House.
