Magufuli orders ministers to release ship repair materials stuck in major port

DAR ES SALAAM, July
17, (Xinhua / GNA) – Tanzanian President John Magufuli has given five days
ultimatum to finance ministers and transport ministers for liberation
materials blocked at the port of Dar es Salaam for the construction of a sea slope
in Lake Victoria to be used for the repair of five ships.

Speaking after he
inspected the construction of the marine slope of Lake Victoria, said Magufuli
he wanted to see the stranded materials released in five days from Tuesday.

The reports said that
the materials were held in port pending the payment of taxes due.

He said the navy
the slope will be used to repair five pbadenger and cargo ships and to bademble
of a new ship that will facilitate transportation along the lake shared by Tanzania,
Kenya and Uganda.

A published statement
by the Directorate of Presidential Communication at State House in the
the commercial capital Dar es Salaam quoted the president as saying that the repair
of the five ships and the construction of the new ship by a Korean company
cost 152 billion Tanzanian shillings (about 66 million dollars).

The statement says
President Magufuli was not happy with the non-clearance of 58 containers
transport materials for the construction of the sea slope and the repair of
the boats.

Magufuli last week
plans were underway to improve transportation in Lake Victoria to facilitate
trade in the East African region.

"The government
badembles one ship and repairs another five to improve transportation
the lake and subsequently stimulate economic activities, "said Magufuli
when he greeted Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. Museveni was a day
visit to Chato, home village of Magufuli in northwestern Tanzania
Geita.

Magufuli said that
after badembling the ship and repairing five other persons, persons of the three
countries can improve trade.

GNA