This archive report was first published on 27 June 2020.
Published on June 27, 2020, a report by The EastAfrican highlighted concerns over cargo delays at Dar es Salaam and Mombasa ports.
Rwandan importers are facing a crisis as 2,064 containers, which arrived between December and May this year, remain stuck at the Dar es Salaam port, port of Mombasa, and Naivasha ICD due to delays in processing logistics and paperwork.
The delays have been attributed to the introduction of new operational protocols governing borders and the drivers' strike at borders of Benaco and Malaba respectively.
Importers claim that despite receiving an extension of free demurrage days from the respective governments, nothing substantive has taken place to resolve the matter.
Joseph Akumuntu, the director of the Rwanda Private Sector Federation's Chamber of Commerce and Services, stated that the ports' authorities, warehouse operators, and revenue bodies continued to count Customs warehouse rent, port storage fees, and penalties thereof.
“Now the Tanzania International Container Terminal Services has threatened to auction our containers, notwithstanding several requests for the waiver, to which did not receive feedback. We are requesting the government to engage their Tanzanian and Kenyan counterparts to find a solution,” he said.
According to Akumuntu, the accrued charges on some containers have grown way above the value of the stranded cargo.
Of the 2,064 containers, 2,000 are stuck at Dar es Salaam port, while 64 are at Mombasa and Naivasha.
Most of the containers arrived between February and May, when the effects of the coronavirus pandemic took a toll on the transport logistics chain.
