DAR ES SALAAM, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Tanzania Investment Center (TIC) on Monday criticized some government officials for harassing foreign investors in Tanzania.

"Harassment of investors by some government officials is discouraging efforts to attract more investments in the country," said Geoffrey Mwambe, TIC Executive Director in a news conference in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam.

Harassment of investors by the government leaders caused unpredictability of the country's investment environment, said Mwambe.

He said there were some ministers, regional commissioners and district commissioners who had been issuing directives to investors on issues that belonged to other relevant authorities.

"Utterances by these appointed leaders are making it difficult for TIC to lure more investors in the country because investors need predictability," said Mwambe.

"There are times when a regional commissioner or a district commissioner orders an investor to pay huge amounts of taxes within short period without the awareness of Tanzania Revenue Authority or any other relevant authority," said Mwambe.

Mwambe said TIC has received complaints from investors on the matter requesting that laws should be observed and issues such as taxes and quality of products should be addressed by relevant authorities.

He said the president has been at the forefront in efforts to attract investors, therefore there was need for the government officials to support the drive instead of discouraging the investors.