Speculation as Makonda containers auctioned

Dar es Salaam. Tongues are wagging as the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) today auctions the Sh2 billion worth of furniture belonging to the underfire Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Paul Makonda.

TRA commissioned Yono Auction Mart to conduct the auctioning of the RC’s tables, chairs and blackboards, which are packed in 20 containers.

President John Magufuli sparked a social media fire on Thursday when he waded into the Sh1.2 billion duty row between the RC and TRA, saying the auction had to be carried out if Mr Makonda failed to pay the requisite duty.

In an interview with The Citizen yesterday, Ms Scholastika Kevela, the Yono Auction Mart director general, confirmed the auction would go ahead at the Dar es Salaam Port today, commencing 9am.

“We have a schedule to auction various consignments tomorrow (today) including the 20 containers; the auction will be held according to the instructions we have been given by our client, TRA,” she said.

A source within TRA also told The Citizen yesterday that some officials from the taxman inspected the containers ahead of today’s auction.

The first auction failed to go through last Saturday after potential buyers reportedly failed to meet the minimum bidding price. A day later, a defiant Mr Makonda threatened potential buyers saying their families would be cursed if they bought the goods.

He said he would make sure that the containers were not sold because he had asked God to block the process.

“Our President understands the importance of education, so we as his representatives, can’t sit and do nothing when we know that our school teaching environments are unfriendly,” said Mr Makonda.

Since the container drama unfolded on May 12 this year, the RC has been digging in, insisting that the furniture was donated by Tanzanians in the United States for distribution in Dar es Salaam schools.

The drama took a fresh twist with this week’s surprise visit to the port by Finance minister Phillip Mpango, who ordered TRA to ignore the RC’s threats and go ahead with the auction.

“All people are equal in the eyes of the law, irrespective of one’s looks and position and this is exactly what I swore to defend [in the capacity of Finance and Planning minister]…I am entrusted with tax laws. I ask you Mr Commissioner to stand by what the law says without being swayed,” Dr Mpango told the Commissioner for Customs and Excise, Mr Ben Usaje.

The minister said he would not be intimidated by Dar es Salaam RC’s threats, saying the government had every reason to collect its Sh1.2 billion tax from the imported consignment.

He also seemingly dismissed the donation argument saying the government will keep on disbursing Sh20 billion for the free education programme.

A few days later, President Magufuli intervened by dismissing the RC’s donation argument and backing the Finance minister in the dramatic stalemate.

He said: “According to the laws of the land...no one has the mandate to borrow, bail out or receive donations on behalf of the government without being authorised by the Finance Minister.’’

On social media, his comments have since been interpreted as yet another sign that the RC might be fast falling out of favour with the powers that be.