Months after the government ended the monopoly by Tanzania International Container Terminal Services (Ticts) at Dar es Salaam Port, Infrastructure Development Minister Shukuru Kawambwa ordered the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) to ensure it obtains a competent investor, reported All Africa.

The move is aimed at challenging Ticts in providing quality services at the port, and hence attract imports that might have stopped relying on the country's port.

Ticts has for a long time been blamed for inefficiency to an extent that at several points, the Parliament had been questioning the possibility of terminating Ticts contract and replacing it with a competent investor.

Among other complaints, ships were taking up to 26 days after landing to offload. Other problems were that of congestion as a result of Ticts inefficiency and delays by Tanzania Revenue Authority in Customs procedures.

But the congestion is reported to have reduced. Kawambwa has instructed the authority to ensure that all foreign ships entering the country do not dock at the port for more than two days. At present foreign ships are allowed to anchor at the port for three days, an improvement from 26 days as of January this year.