Tanzania: Reliable Power to Accelerate Development in Isles President Ali

Zanzibar — AS residents, investors, tour operators and companies look forward to becoming efficient through the use of 'reliable' electricity from the national Grid (Tanzania mainland), the ultimate solution for Zanzibar power blues is to have its own energy source.
It was a 'great day' on April 10, 2013 when the new line from the national grid was launched by President Ali Mohamed Shein anticipating better living and economical growth following the end of electricity rationing on the islands.
Addressing hundreds of people including students, civil servants, politicians, ministers, investors and development partners led by US ambassador Alfonso Lenhardt, who turned up at the Amaan stadium, Dr Shein said: "It is now time for joy, hard work, and opportunity for investors, following supply of reliable power."
The celebrations began by Shein, Lemhardt, and the Director General - Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Mr Daniel Wolde Yohannes, jointly cutting a ribbon at Mtoni Power Station to symbolise the start of the use of the new 100 megawatts marine cable.
Most of the routine duties in public offices were paralysed and the Zanzibar House of Representatives morning session cancelled to pave way for the civil servants and legislators to take part in the celebrations.
However, some members of the Zanzibar House of Representatives were not happy with the poor attendance at the Amaan Stadium, saying it was an indication that some people were either doubtful about the reliable supply or were engaged in other crucial duties.
"People want to see civil servant accused of corruption held accountable," observes Mr Ismail Jussa Ladu, legislator for Mji-mkongwe. Jussa is joined by several members of the House like Mr Hija Hassan Hija (CUFKiwani), Mr Hamza Hassan Juma (CCM- Kwamtipura), Ms Asha Bakari Makame (CCM- Women), and Mr Makame Mshimba Mbarouk (CCM- Kitope) to decry corruption and embezzlement of public funds.
They asked President Shein to work on reports from the House committees who have investigated several ministries and implicating some ministers and directors with abuse of their position in public offices. "People want to see corrupt people fired and taken to court," the legislators say, as they also push the government to spare no effort in search for Zanzibar's own source of electricity, an assurance to people and investors of power.
The lawmakers said having 'new electricity line' from the national grid (Tanzania mainland) is big achievement for the Islands, but worried about reliability "at this period of increasing demand and unstable source of hydro electricity."
"Zanzibar government should invest in other sources of power such as 'solar, wind, sea waves, and power generation from wastes. We should have sufficient electricity from all sources instead of relying only on the national grid," say members of the House. However, the legislators joined with Shein to thank the US through its Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) for funding the more than USD 68 million electricity project which included laying of the new cable to replace the old one.
Zanzibar government contributed USD 1.4 million specifically for compensating people who had their properties destroyed during the project, and the Zanzibar Electricity Corporation (ZECO) contributed USD 200,000 for the work. Unguja Island, Zanzibar's administration head quarters and commercial city was hit by blackout in 2008 when the dilapidated 40 megawatts broke down for three months followed by power rationing starting from 2010.
Zanzibar was prompted to ask for assistance from development partners and successfully won a grant from the US to purchase the USD 28.1 million marine containing fiber optic materials to improve communication, mainly the egovernment project. The Principal Secretary (PS) - Minister responsible for Energy Mr Ali Halil Mirza, said at the function that the marine cable with the life span of 40 years is expected