Tanzanian PM orders arrest of businessmen for using his name to evade tax

DAR ES SALAAM, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa on Wednesday ordered the east African country's police chief to arrest two businessmen for allegedly using his name to clear cargo from the Dar es Salaam port without paying taxes.

"You shouldn't allow someone to come here and tell you that he has been directed by the President or the Vice President or even me to clear his cargo. You should always stick to the laws and procedures," Majaliwa told port authorities when he paid a surprise visit.

The Prime Minister said two businessmen, owners of NAS Company and Wallmark, reportedly tried to use his name to clear 44 trucks with trailers from the Dar es Salaam port, a move that was aimed at evading paying taxes.

Majaliwa ordered the Inspector General Police Simon Sirro to arrest the duo who imported the trucks from Turkey.

Majaliwa directed the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) to strictly work in accordance with the laws and procedures instead of listening to traders, who sometimes used names of top government officials to try and clear their consignments without paying due taxes.

The prime minister said the traders tried to con port authorities to clear the trucks, which were imported in 2015 from Turkey.

"The owners of the trailers had only paid 30 percent of the bill of lading and they tried to use my name to get exempted," he said. Enditem