TPA reacts to wharfage ‘misinformation’

TANZANIA: THE Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) on Sunday clarified on wharfage charge, saying it is electronically calculated based on cargo’s destination.

The authority made clarification in response to misinformation making rounds on social media over wharfage charges, where some customer claimed to have been overcharged.

In its statement issued on Sunday, the authority stated that for domestic cargo the wharfage is charged based on custom value at 1.6 per cent for containerised cargo and loose cargo.

On the other hand, for transit cargo including the loose cargo are charged by considering their weight or volume at 3 US dollars (about 7600/-), read the statement.

According to TPA, transit containerised cargoes are charge 90 US dollars (about 229,300/-) for a 20 feet container, while 180 US dollars (about 459,000/-) is calculated for the 40 feet-long container.

“Regarding the complaint raised by our customer who spread it through social media over the weekend, it is obviously that the concern is on domestic cargo, which for a cargo valued at 42,855,358/- is charged 685,686/- as wharfage without Value Added Tax (VAT) and the amount goes to a total of 809,109/- when VAT is included and not 1,759,768/- as it was claimed,” read the statement.

The statement notes that since the charges are imposed electronically to avoid human intervention, there was no possibility of making errors of overcharging.

Hence, it urged customers who face any challenge relating to the wharfage to contact the authority’s general director’s office for quick settling. In another development, the statement indicated that currently the Dar es Salaam Port is still operated by the TPA, noting that the DP World is yet start operations.

“Citizens will be informed when the DP World would start operations at the port,” the statement adds.

According to the statement, wharfage charge shall be under TPA supervision even after the DP World starts operation at the port as per the stipulated agreement.

“So far the wharfage is charged through a TANCIS System which is under Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA), and the situation will continue as such even when DP World starts its operation,” it further read.

TANCIS refers to the Tanzania’s customs integrated system built on hitech principles with a view to increasing effectiveness, efficiency, transparency and reliability in the customs administration.