Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Albert Chalamila has made a surprise visit to Mwenge market, his first time doing so after being moved to a job centre by President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan from the country.

Chalamila, speaking after arriving at the market on May 16, 2023, said the intention of passing through the shops was to see the reality of what is being talked about by traders on the street.

"Although I have not entered the official office, I have seen the need to hear exactly what people are saying, but in one area I have passed people are complaining about the presence of high taxes that cannot be paid by businesses due to the high VAT rate which is 18 percent," Chalamila said.

He also said another issue that is being raised by the traders is related to the customs department which has imposed high tax rates, especially on the sludge and the long chain of monitoring that is a barrier to many traders.

"The third thing I have heard is the arrest of Kariakoo traders and the lack of freedom and the disruption of their customers and especially to customers from Congo, Zambia, Malawi and other countries," Chalamila said.

He also said another one he noted for businesses in Mwenge is the presence of student workers who are used by the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) who lack the ability to speak good and respectful language for traders.

"Another thing is the TRA process to allow cargo from the port and then again they come to inspect the documents in the cargo storage area (Godown), which traders say is a major inconvenience to them."

"The most important is the statement of the Hon. President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan to forgive the Tax of three or five years back, where businesses have not been able to take the President's statement into action, who have now been asking for official letters from the authorities in the sense of the President, Prime Minister or Vice President." Said

Chalamila was officially announced on Wednesday to be transferred from the city to Dar es Salaam, replacing Amos Makalla, who has been transferred to Mwanza region.