The seizure of fish consignment from Japan sparks a mixed reaction

UNCERTAINTY still surrounds the recent government’s decision which has left many people in great amazement after it had suspended the sale of about 124,992 kilograms of fish consignment from Japan, which it had earlier certified was fit for consumption. Business Times can establish. The orders came after five days of the release of the fish consignment known as Mackerel from the port of Dar es Salaam two weeks ago despite of the fact that the company met all the local and international safety requirements for importation with all the legal documents in hands. The Minister for Health and Social Welfare Dr. Hadji Mponda confirmed in Dar es Salaam recently that, his ministry had intervened on the strength of a report of the consignment from an anonymous informer that, “the alleged consignment had been contaminated by dangerous nuclear elements.” However, the consignees’ shipping documents including two important ordering permits whose copies are made available to Business Times, shows that all the procedures as indicated in the documents were clearly followed. But to the great dismay, the General Manager of the company Alphakrust Limited which imported the consignment Mr. Ganeshan Vedagire is still in great surprise following the orders by the government which compelled him to withhold the sale of the fish consignment pending for further investigations. According to him, the available documents verifies in details the importing procedures through which the company followed. One of the most important documents is the one issued by Tanzania Atomic Energy Commission with reference No: I’AEC/ENV/09/3/VOL.95/2309 which was signed by its Director General on 8th of July 2011. Another document in hand is that one which was issued by the Tanzania Food and Drug Authority (TFDA).

The Ferry fish market in Dar es Salaam is currently facing shortage of fish, not because of the fish consignment that is supposed to have posed a great threat to consumers, but because of the recent marine disaster of Spice Islander which sunk with over 1,000 people off the shores of Zanzibar Island. In view of this, fishermen have stopped fishing and have gone to mourn for their relatives in Pemba. Statistics shows that most fishermen at Ferry fish market are people of Pemba origin.

This document endorsed the permission to import registrable products under section 21(1)d of Tanzania Food Drug and Cosmetics Act 2003, the document bears the permit No: TFDA11/F/IPER/0896 which was signed on behalf of the Director General on 11th of July 2011. Investigations by Business Times over the matter can reveal from other sources in the fish industry that, some fish dealers have described the action portrays corruption and has been more aggravated by, if not personal interests of some few untrustworthy officials Their views are judged from the proof that, if Tanzania Food and Drug Authority (TFDA) a national body responsible for ascertaining the quality of imported food had allowed the sale of the consignment in the market which they had proved had no doubt, how comes should they change out their mindset? Asked one fellow. However, TFDA’s acting Director General Mr. Hiiti Sillo could not be able to speak on the matter when contacted for more clarifications saying that, the issue was now in the hands of the government investigation. Interviewed about the whole saga, some fish traders in the city could not hesitate to give out their comments. Their views had a mixed reaction as some of them expressed their views in support of government’s decision while others have criticized their fellow traders for having involved in dubious business. Some local fish dealers in the country expressed their disappointment over the decision of the government for banning the consignment from being sold in the market, saying that it was too late as some potion of it was already allowed and people had bought it. They said, “TFDA as well as the Ministry of Health officials have to be blamed for their failure to take abrupt action of preventing the consignment from being sold, and commented on the power the two bodies are vested upon over the inspection of the imports coming into the country. Apart from the blame thrown to the government, some fish traders have also blamed their fellow fish businessmen for being unscrupulous says one Frank Joseph of Magogoni fish market in the city. According to him, there are few unscrupulous fish traders who are engaged in an illegal business transactions with a view of spoiling the good name of the industry which it has established and its stakeholders in general. Another businessman Ahamad Kombo of a Dar es Salaam based Fish Dealers Company, threw a challenge to fish industries in the country for their failure to comply by the rules and regulations set by the government over the conduct of fish businesses, especially when ordering fish consignment from outside the country. According to him, there are some famous businessmen who are engaged in importing fish consignment that colludes with high ranking government’s officials in dubious trade transactions, an aspect which he termed as tarnishing the good name of fish industry in the country. Without mentioning the alleged companies, he says that, some engage in acts of corruption with the government related organs who concerns with imports and inspections of imported fish from outside the country. He reveals that consignment of low quality fish is auctioned to some unscrupulous traders coming from East and Central African countries Tanzania included who does their business transactions with their counterparts from Middle East countries. Mr. Kombo whose company deals with the supply of fish as an agent, says that dubious traders have found it easier to conduct their businesses here in Tanzania without resistances. He therefore cautions Tanzanians to be keen enough while buying the imported fish. Mr. Kombo noted that, most big fish industries in the country are owned by well-known eminent figures who owns biggest shares and in view of this, it is difficult to control them. However, he noted that it is not true that small scale businessmen fails to order fish consigners from outside the country, but due to their low income level and coupled by the increased tax rates by the government, most of them fails to do such businesses. Cornered by the writer of this news, was a Medical expert who could not hesitate to advise Tanzanians on the consequences that might arise as side effects resulting from the consumption of any foods alleged to have been contaminated by nuclear elements. An expert says that such victims are likely to be affected by cancer.
An Assistant Director of the cancer department of the famous Dar es Salaam based Ocean Road Cancer Hospital Dr. Julius Mwaiselege said in interview when contacted for comments that, “signs of cancer disease resulting from nuclear elements is not immediately realized. However, he said the circulation of the so-called poison moves slowly on human body and takes about ten years when a patient begins to see the body signs. Therefore, Dr. Mwaiselege suggests that for earlier treatment if someone suspects to have been infected is therefore asked to undergo for a medical treatment earlier to know of their body status. Dr. Mwaisegele made the appeal especially to those who felt to have already consumed the fish consignment in areas of Kilombero, Morogoro and in Dar es Salaam where it had been earlier distributed for sale. Meanwhile the Manager of fish Ferry market My. Bure Mdoe where the consignment were destined for preservation, has said that Dar es Salaam residents should not be afraid as the fish earlier kept within the yard have been removed for further investigations. The issue of fish raged the national parliamentary debate a fortnight ago as members of the parliament demanded to know the government move to import the fish while the country has all the available water sources to be used for fishing activities.