THE
GOVERNOR OF SONGWE Region, Daniel Chongolo, Has Called On The Defense And
Security Agencies To Strengthen Security On The Border Between Tanzania And Malawi
In Ileje District, Which Is Said To Have The Challenge Of Many Tunnels Used For
Smuggling And Evasion Of Subsidized Fertilizers.
He
Gave These Instructions On April 28, 2024 After Visiting And Inspecting The Isongole
Border Post Office, Ileje District, Which Is The First Day Of His Four-Day
Visit To Review Ongoing Projects, Talk To Employees Including Holding Public
Meetings.
"We
Must Stay Calm Especially For The Next Farming Season And Plan To Ensure That
None Of The Subsidized Fertilizers Cross Over And Are Dumped In Neighboring
Countries".
"The
Job Of Protecting The Country Belongs To All Of Us, So Each One Of Us Should Be
Careful About Everything That Is Imported Into The Country And Give
Information... Because Today If He Succeeds In Passing Fertilizer, Tomorrow He
Will Import Weapons" Added Chongolo
In
Addition, Chongolo Has Given One Month To The Manager Of The Road Agency In The
Country (Tanroads) Songwe Region, Engineer Suleiman Bishanga To Ensure That He
Puts Up A Border Identification Sign, As Well As The Construction Of A Hut To
Prevent Income After The Existing One Wears Out.
Similarly,
Chongolo Has Advised The Manager Of The Revenue Authority (TRA) In The Songwe Region,
Rashid Herth, To Ensure That They End The Problem Of The Lack Of A Permanent
Road Block At The Isongole Customs Station.
Likewise,
Chongolo Has Said That The Region Will Fight To Ensure That The Isongole Customs
Station Is Upgraded From Grade C To Grade B.
Regarding
The Increase Of The Area In The Center, Chongolo Has Advised The Country's
Revenue To See The Possibility Of Increasing The Area Early.
The
Head Of Ileje District, Farida Mgomi, Explained That Customs Activities Have
Intensified In The Border After The Government Of Malawi Started The
Construction Of A 36 Kilometer Asphalt Road From The Border To The Headquarters
Of Chitipa District In Malawi.
Therefore,
Asking The Government To Upgrade The Customs Station So That It Can Be
Independent And Work 24 Hours A Day.
Initially
Giving A Performance Report At The Center, Isongole Customs Officer, Charles
Chacha, Said Apart From The Existing Challenges, The Center Has Continued To
Collect Government Revenue As In The Period Up To March This Year They Have
Managed To Collect An Amount Of 126,461,596 Million Shillings Equal To 26.6
Percent Of Targets Of 474,042,860 Million Shillings That They Were Set To
Collect For The Financial Year 2023/24.
However,
The Station Has Been Faced With A Lack Of Space, So There Is A Need To Increase
The Area Widely Due To Demand Because The Existing Area Is Adjacent To The 'Buffer
Zone' Where There Is 60 Meters Of The Songwe River Reservoir,
A
Situation That May Endanger The Safety Of Customers' Cargo Since There Has Been
A Change In The Country's Climate.