Maize Import Crisis: Over 200 Trucks Stranded at Namanga Border Due to Permit Dispute
At least 200 trucks transporting maize into the country are stalled at the Kenya-Tanzania Namanga border. Because the Tanzanian government has ceased issuing export permits. Some of these trucks have been stranded at the jurisdictional border with Tanzania for the past week. Traders are reportedly counting enormous losses, particularly those who hired trucks to transport grains into the country.
The Tanzanian government immediately ceased issuing export permits to Kenyan merchants. Leaving them stranded with maize shipments at the Namanga border crossing.
Wednesday’s spot check by the Nation revealed dejected merchants. Trucks transporting the rare commodity were parked in the yard, with more arriving every hour.
Both Tanzanian and Kenyan customs offices came to a halt. Some of the merchants sat thoughtfully on the parking lot pavements. After their frantic efforts to have their shipments cleared were unsuccessful. The truck drivers appeared exhausted and despondent, with some threatening to abandon their loads in the parking lot.
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Mr. Sammy Mwaura-Brotherhood Transporter of Nakuru informed Nation that he has been detained since last Tuesday. He was transporting 100 bags of maize from Tanzania’s Katesi when he was informed by Tanzanian authorities that he could not be cleared.
“I have been stranded without hope of clearance for the past week. Every day, we incur colossal amounts of losses. Let the two governments facilitate seamless cross-border commerce, he said.
A trader with several trucks of maize at the Kenyan border confided to Nation that he had purchased 10 million shillings worth of maize in the hopes of making a tidy profit on the Kenyan market.
“I received an order to provide corn to a local miller. Despite having borrowed the capital from a local financial institution, I can supply,” he said bitterly.
Zachary Mwangi, secretary of the Namanga branch of the Kenya International Freight & Warehousing Association (KEFWA), stated that the new measures by the Tanzanian government would take effect in July.
Mr. Mwangi stated that Kenyan merchants stand to lose hundreds of millions of dollars if the impasse is not resolved amicably.
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“The Tanzanian government should have notified the maize traders promptly that they will not be issuing export permits.”Mr. Mwangi stated that our efforts to reach the relevant authorities had hit a snag.
In addition, he urged the government to act swiftly to prevent Kenyan merchants from incurring significant losses. “At the border are at least 200 trucks transporting maize. “Kenya’s corn shortage is alarming, yet thousands of tonnes of the commodity are being held at the border,” he added.
Kenyan traders wishing to import maize from Tanzania will be required to open and register local offices in Dar es Salaam, as per new guidelines issued by the Tanzania Ministry of Agriculture Permanent Secretary to take effect on July 1, 2023, and obtained by Nation.
The strict regulations require grain traders to register with the Business Registrations and Licensing Agency (Brela) to obtain a trading license.
Before exporting grains, traders must also present tax clearance certificates and Brela-issued business licenses.
Maize Import Crisis: Over 200 Trucks Stranded at Namanga Border Due to Permit Dispute
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