Madeni Kipande News

The acting director of Tanzania's port authority has been suspended pending an investigation into allegations he violated procurement procedures, officials said on Tuesday. The suspension comes at a time when the Indian Ocean port of Dar es Salaam, a major gateway to east Africa long plagued by inefficiencies, is due to receive a major facelift as part of a push to become a regional trade hub. Director Madeni Kipande, whose predecessor was removed in a graft scandal two years ago, could not be immediately reached for comment. Local media quoted him as saying he had done nothing wrong.

Tanzania's Dar es Salaam Port has got ready to welcome large container vessels including MSC Martina, one of the largest container vessels. Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) has informed that the adequate improvements have enabled to dock such large vessels at the country's major port. The Mediterranean Shipping Company's container vessel with an overall length of 244 meters and width of 32.2 meters and carrying capacity of 2,411 containers docked without any problem, said Madeni Kipande, Acting Director General, TPA. Kipande explained that the MSC Martina is one of the largest container ships owned by the Geneva-based Italian Company to dock and offload consignment at the port. The arrival of such large vessels is a major achievement to be recorded by the Tanzania Ports Authority, he noted.