TRA in Tanga Region Collects 200bn/- In Seven Months -

By Senior Reporter VALENTINE OFORO

With over 310 ships currently docking at the port of Tanga annually, the anchorage is expected to collect more revenues in a near future

THE Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) in Tanga region has managed to collect a total of 200bn/- during a period of seven months, from July 2024 to January 2025.

According to Tanga TRA regional manager, Mr Thomas Masese the amount collected is an increase of 76 percent compared to what the authority realized during the same period last year, from July 2023 and January 2024, which stood at 133bn/-.

He added, the amount netted in just seven consecutive months is close to a total of 204bn/- which TRA collected during last year, being out of 207bn/- which was targeted for collection throughout the past year.

The manger was giving an exclusive interview to this publication at the port of Tanga, in a sideline of climax of a special eight- days tour of President Samia Suluhu Hassan in Tanga region.

He informed, refurbishment of the port of Tanga has played impressive role to help elevating revenue gains in the Northern Zone region.

“For instance, during 2017/18 fiscal year we collected 31.9bn/- from the port, whereby during 2018/19 the amount raised to 34bn/-,” he said.

He added, in 2019/20 the port produced revenues at around 31bn/- , and in 2020/21 collections catapulted to 56bn/-.

“During 2021/22 financial year a total of 53bn/- was collected in terms of revenue at the port, 77bn/- during 2022/23, and 70bn/- in 2023/24,” he added.

Giving currently success, Mr Masese informed that from July 2024 to January 2025 the authority, TRA, has already collected a total of 66.3 bn/-.

“Efforts by President Samia Suluhu Hassan to facelift the port of Tanga has come along with a wave of blessings in the revenue collecting sector, and we remain optimistic that the trend will keep on improving annually,” he said.

He said Pangani and Kipumpu ports, which also found in the region, were in good stages of refurbishment, saying upon completion will double the revenue collection.

With over 310 ships currently docking at the port of Tanga annually, the anchorage is expected to collect more revenues in a near future, according to the port manager, Mr Masoud Mrisha.

The Port of Tanga

The manager said impressive records in the revenue collections at the facility was due to major infrastructural development that the Sixth Phase Government has been undertaking at the northern sea gate.

He said the projects were executed by the chinese engineering company (CHEC) through two major phases, and so far, the sea port facility located at Tanga Bay, is starting to reap gains.

“Upgrading projects include expansion of the entrance channel and turning basin, procurement of 13 relevant modern machineries, construction of a special information communication technology hub, and installation of an auxiliary power station and pump house, implemented to the tune of 256.8bn/-,” he detailed.

He noted that, the timely initiative has also increased the anchorage’s vessels handling capacity from the previous 118 ships to the currently over 310 liners.

The port of Tanga is the second largest port in Tanzania after that of Dar es Salaam, and the facility is competing directly with the Mombasa port on the other side of the border in neighbouring Kenya