Transporting cashews via Mtwara Port materialises

MTWARA: TANZANIA Ports Authority (TPA) has started implementing directives issued by President Samia Suluhu Hassan to ensure cashew nuts produced in Southern regions are transported through Mtwara Port starting 2023/24 cashew season.

This was revealed yesterday here after the TPA through CMA-CGM Saigon container ship delivered 225 empty containers at Mtwara Port to handle cashew nuts. The ship which docked yesterday at the new berth was witnessed by Mtwara District Commissioner Ms Mwanahamisi Munkunda, Mtwara CCM regional leaders, business people and cashew farmers.

Speaking during the event, Mtwara Port Manager Mr Ferdinand Nyath said the management of the port is well prepared to implement the President’s directives accordingly.

“We are well prepared and ready to handle cashew cargos in a bid to implement the President’s directives that require us (TPA) to transport cashew nuts through Mtwara Port starting the 2023/24 harvest season,” he said.

Mr Nyath said the government has purchased modern equipment including new cranes to load large cargoes at the deepest port of Mtwara.

“Concerning the equipment, the port is fully equipped with infrastructure and equipment to handle various cargo including cashews,” he said, adding that the government recently purchased a crane worth 33bn/- as more plans were underway to purchase a 54bn/- worth crane to increase efficiency at the port.

During her working tour in Mtwara September this year, President Samia promised to allocate more budget for improving Mtwara Port in a bid to make the deepest port as the largest water gateway and an engine for Southern Zone and neighbouring countries’ economic boom.

Meanwhile, Mr Nyath said that more shipping companies have shown interest in bringing empty containers at Mtwara Port to handle cashew cargo.

“Several shipping companies have shown interest to bring empty containers at Mtwara Port to handle cashew nuts,” he said, noting that seven container ships are expected to dock at Mtwara Port to bring containers for handling the cashews. The ships will each bring 400 empty containers.

The manager called on businesspeople to feel free in using Mtwara port to transport cashews, saying the port management is ready to collaborate with all companies and business people to transport cashews via Mtwara Port.

Mtwara District Commissioner Mwanahamisi Munkunda commended TPA for ensuring quick implementation of the directives issued by President Samia. She said the move was a milestone for business people, farmers and people of Mtwara towards economic development.