The Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC)-the conference of bishops of the Roman Catholic Church in Tanzania, on Friday August 18, 2023, expressed their opposition to the deployment of a single investor at the Dar es Salaam port, but rather multiple investors, mostly sourced domestically.
The clergymen said they believe there are Tanzanians with the ability to invest in developing the port.
In a statement released yesterday, TEC said they were driven by a conscience aimed at protecting national resources, solidarity, and national unity.
This comes barely a week after the High Court ruled that the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between Tanzania and the Emirate of Dubai did not violate any constitutional provisions.
In the ruling, which also offers petitioners the room for appeal, the three-judge bench solidly ruled that the petition by four Tanzanians held no water and that, in any case, it was the Parliament, not the court of law, that had the constitutional mandate to annul any IGA entered into by the government and a third party.
The ruling means that the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) could proceed with its planned agreement with DP World for the planned investment at some berths of the Dar Port.
While the government maintained that the IGA – which sets the stage for further negotiations on the Host Government Agreement (HGA) and lease agreement before commencing a new chapter in the Dar es Salaam port – was done in good faith, various groups of people, including some opposition political parties, vehemently opposed the move, citing several reasons.
However, in the statement co-signed by TEC President Gervas Nyaisonga and TEC Secretary General Fr Charles Kitima, they said they think it is important to continue building the national capacity for public and private sector participation and, whenever necessary, form partnerships with foreign companies that have technological expertise.
“We admit that the government’s system of keeping foreign investors only in the main economic channels has made us lose investment sustainability, especially when investors leave,” reads part of the statement.
He noted that the port was one of Tanzania’s main and natural trade gateways that is crucial for the country’s economy as it enables Tanzanians to do business and should remain in their hands.
The clerics’ statement comes after the government has repeatedly clarified that it will make sure that Tanzania’s interests are safeguarded through specific contracts that will be signed on specific areas of investments in the port.
Additionally, the government has said the strategic partnership through the IGA will not only boost the performance of the Dar es Salaam port, but it will also reinvigorate Tanzania as the logistical gateway of choice in the region.
On June 10, this year, the Parliament endorsed the IGA, paving the way for the establishment of cooperation contracts in the development of port areas across the country.
Immediately after the parliamentary endorsement, the Works and Transport minister, Prof Makame Mbarawa Mnyaa, and ministry experts held a meeting with religious leaders to update them on the agreement and clarify contentious issues.
The Planning and Investment minister, Prof Kitila Mkumbo, has also been addressing rallies in different parts of the country to give clarifications about elements constituting the agreement.
The opposition Chadema, which has been opposing the agreement, held several rallies outlining its position on the IGA elements.
