Time for Kwala move

TANZANIA: GOVERNMENT has made a decision for all institutions that carry out port-related activities to immediately relocate to the Kwala Dry Port, in adherence to President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s directive.

The Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Transport, Professor Godius Kahyarara, was quoted yesterday ordering the move whose August 4 deadline has already passed should be implemented.

Prof Kahyarara was speaking on Thursday in Dar es Salaam during a meeting of transport stakeholders that was convened to discuss the implementation of the President’s directive on the use of Kwala in-land terminal.

Kwala Dry Port is a new inland container depot in Tanzania, strategically located in Kibaha district of Coast region, about 90 kilometres from Dar es Salaam – the commercial capital of the country.

It was officially launched on August 1, 2025 and is designed to alleviate congestion at the Dar es Salaam Port and improve the efficiency of cargo handling, particularly for goods destined for landlocked neighbouring countries.

As the PS reminded stakeholders, the timeframe set by the President has lapsed, calling on institutions that had not yet moved their operations to comply without delay. Indeed, we must ensure every institution required to be at Kwala has done so.

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President Samia directed the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Trade and Industries to ensure all relevant port institutions are fully operational at Kwala by August 4, 2025, to facilitate smooth operations. The move is part of broader efforts to decongest the Dar es Salaam port, lower logistics costs and boost economic activity.

Kwala is a central part of Tanzania’s strategy to strengthen regional trade and connectivity, especially with land-linked neighbours such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zambia, Rwanda, Malawi, Uganda, Zimbabwe and South Sudan Kwala Dry Port can handle up to 823 containers per day and 300,000 containers annually. This is expected to reduce congestion at Dar es Salaam Port by 30 per cent.

The port is integrated with the standard gauge railway (SGR) line, allowing for efficient movement of cargo between Dar es Salaam and Kwala, reducing reliance on road transport.

Kwala Dry Port is expected to boost regional trade by serving as a key logistics hub. The port is anticipated to stimulate economic activity in the surrounding areas and create job opportunities.

As Prof Kahyarara said, the relocation process should not disrupt the operations of other institutions or the public who rely on their services. The Government’s goal is to solve challenges, not create new ones, so let all stakeholders embark on relocation now. We believe they will advise on the best way to carry out the directive. All the best.