THE Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has expressed satisfaction with the financial report on the implementation of Dar es Salaam Maritime Gateway Project (DMGP) by Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA).

Speaking during a visit to the Port of Dar es Salaam at the weekend, PAC chairperson Naghenjwa Kaboyoka expressed her committee's satisfaction with use of public funds invested in DMGP project as highlighted in the recent report by the Controller and Auditor General (CAG).

"After receiving the CAG's report, we decided to visit the project to see how it is being implemented and how funds are being used," she said.

"Through this visit and the CAG report we reviewed, it is clear that the investment funds have been used as planned," she added.

She praised TPA board of directors led by Ambassador Ernest Mangu and the management of the authority under Director General Plasduce Mbossa for oversight of the project funds.

After visiting various areas of the port, Kaboyoka said that one of the indicators of proper fund utilization was the construction of berths and deepening works that allow larger ships to dock at the port.

She stated that implementation of the DMGP project is crucial for improving various infrastructure, including the construction of a modern SGR railway connected to the port which makes it a key economic gateway.

She further emphasized that the improvements would make the port more competitive and reliable for the neighbouring countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.

Earlier, while providing a progress report on the project to the committee members, Deputy Director General of TPA Dr Baraka Mdima explained that the project which began in 2017 covers two main areas: infrastructure improvements and enhancing the authority's capacity.

He stated that several achievements have already been made, including the completion of berths 1-7 last month which are now fully operational and can accommodate large vessels up to 305 meters long with capacity to carry 8,000 containers.

He also mentioned that the construction of a yard covering 73,000 square meters with the capacity to handle 280,000 vehicles annually has been completed and is already in use.

Furthermore, he pointed out that the port which handles 95 percent of cargo moving to and from neighbouring countries has increased the depth of the turning basin from 12 meters to 15.5 meters and expanded its width from 140 meters to 170 meters, now capable of handling ships up to 305 meters long, compared to previous years when it could only accommodate vessels up to 240 meters long.

Other improvements include the construction of an internal port railway network and a power installation project to increase efficiency.

He highlighted that the benefits of the project are already evident with noticeable improvements such as a significant increase in revenue.

Earlier, when explaining TPA's plans to expand its network after various questions from MPs, Mangu who is former Inspector General of Police (IGP), mentioned that the authority has several plans, including upgrading lake ports at border locations and requested the government to continue improving road networks leading to the neighboring countries.

"We aim to capture and maintain key markets such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)," he said.