Road Fees Increment in Favour of Mombasa

In an apparent move to stifle the port of Dar Es Salaam and central transport corridor as a whole in favour of northern road through Mombasa port in Kenya, the government of Rwanda has increased road fees for Tanzanian trucks from USD 152 to USD 500. In reality, Tanzania is the shortest and affordable transport passageway for Kigali at a distance of just 1,350km compared to over 2,700km when cargos are transported through Mombasa. “As we speak there are about 200 trucks which are stuck at the Rusumo border post and we expect the number to increase,” the Tanzania Truck Owners Association (TATAO)’s Treasurer and Publicist Zachariah Hans Poppe told the ‘Daily News’ in a telephone interview yesterday.

Mr Poppe complained that the truck owners were unable to pay the new rates as they were just informed of the augmentation last week. “The new rates are inexcusable. Whether they like it or not Dar es Salaam will always remain the shortest and affordable way. We are now communicating with our government on the way forward,” Mr Poppe said. Dr Tax, who is now Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), said. In a telephone interview from Gaborone, Botswana, Dr Tax said since Rwanda joined the East African Community (EAC), it has been raising many issues to suggest that the central corridor is expensive and yet the reverse is true. Tanzania charges USD 16 for 100km for trucks (axle load 4 and above) while smaller vehicles (axle load 2-3) have been attracting a road toll of just USD 6 for 100km. At present, there is no uniform road toll in the whole of East African region. Reached for comments, Deputy Minister for Transport, Dr Charles Tizeba, said the government of Tanzania was yet to be informed officially of the new development. “Nevertheless, we have received complaints from truck owners regarding the new development. An assessment on impact of the increment along the transport corridor is underway,” Dr Tizeba said.