TANZANIA and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening port infrastructure to stimulate economic activities and enhance cross-border trade.

The agreement is part of joint efforts to improve connectivity, particularly via Lake Tanganyika, where Tanzania is currently upgrading Kigoma Port and constructing the new Karema Port.
Responding to a question in Parliament from Momba MP, Condester Michael Sichalwe, on why Tanzania is proceeding with Karema Port despite limited port development on the DRC side, Deputy Minister for Transport, David Kihenzile, affirmed Tanzania’s commitment to regional integration through the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA).

"The government, through TPA, is upgrading Kigoma Port and building Karema Port to strengthen market access with DRC," said Kihenzile. He added that TPA is conducting a feasibility study and preliminary design for the development of Moba Port in DRC. The Karema Port project is already underway in partnership with a private investor.
MP Sichalwe commended the government’s efforts but urged further investment in supporting infrastructure—particularly a direct road link from Moba to Lubumbashi, a major commercial hub in DRC.

“You may recall that during discussions with the TPA manager, the importance of this road was emphasized. What plans are in place to construct a direct route to Lubumbashi to avoid the logistical challenges of going through Zambia?” she asked.

In response, Deputy Minister Kihenzile acknowledged the importance of the road and assured that the government is working to improve access to Lubumbashi and other strategic DRC markets.

He also noted Tanzania’s geographic advantage in serving landlocked countries, with Zambia routing over 7 million tonnes and DRC over 10 million tonnes of cargo through Tanzanian ports annually.
“The government remains committed to investing in Lake Tanganyika ports to boost trade and support local businesses,” he concluded.