Kibande villagers in Buhingwe District, Kigoma Region, cross the Malagarasi River on the Tanzania-Burundi border on Wednesday to a market at Murambi in Burundi. PHOTO| THE CITIZEN CORRESPONDENT
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He asks why should a trader who crosses to Tanzania with a few bunches of banana be subjected to too much scrutiny and even arrest
Kigoma. Tanzania’s bureaucracy and legal hurdles are scaring away business people from other East African Community (EAC) members, CCM secretary general Abdulrahman Kinana said.
He mentioned frequent inspections of traders and their goods, unsubstantiated levies and threats from officers stationed at border posts as among obstacles.
The remarks come few months after some EAC member states and exporters from those countries complained that the hurdles were stifling economic progress.
Mr Kinana told a public rally in Manyovu town in Buhigwe District that legal hurdles and difficult trading conditions were frustrating business people from Burundi to enter Tanzania.
He said CCM was aimed at strengthening cooperation with countries surrounding Tanzania to enhance trading.
He gave an example of the Muhija market at Murambi Village, which he said would have not died if leaders in the district would have not imposed tough conditions for business people from Burundi.
“Why should a trader who crosses to our country with a few bunches of banana be subjected to too much scrutiny and even arrest? This is unacceptable,” he said.
He expressed his disappointment over the closure of a livestock market at the area.
“Government leaders and other officials must do a critical analysis and ask themselves why the obstacles and complaints involve Tanzania. They must set a strategy to raise revenue to get people out of poverty,” he said.
