TANESCO Fails Again

I would like to address my deep disappointment with TANESCO offices in Mikocheni.  For those of us who live in Mikocheni, daily power cuts - that happen at least three times a day – are the norm.  If power goes off once, then it is a very good day.

We have also been given many reasons for this on going problem; one being that the frequent black outs are expected because we share the same line with the Mikocheni industrial area.  But on a daily basis? 

There was a time when TANESCO attributed the power cuts to its very old and dilapidated equipment.  The firm repeatedly said that the power problems were likely to continue because it had no ability to replace the costly equipment all at once.  I recently enquired whether this was still the problem, and one TANESCO employee assured me that the old equipemts had long been replaced. 

Of late there has been a new excuse of cables falling off poles.  I’m a layperson, but really for a company that does maintanance practically every other day as they claim – more often than I brush my teeth, I reaaly fail to understand how they could miss a faulty wire. 

After exhausting all excuses – from cutting down trees to maintanance and services – the TANESCO employees have now taken to either dismissing the annoyed caller with a giggle or a rude reply. 

It is only the Mikocheni area that experinces this problem.  This clearly  shows irresponsibility on the part of Mikocheni staff.  The TANESCO Mikocheni manager should be questioned.  The TANESCO Mikocheni manager should be made to explain as to where does all the money we pay everyday go to. 

One question that is doing their rounds in the heads of Tanzanians living in the Mikocheni area is: “Why hasn’t our esteemed government not done anything yet about this as it is now an on-going problem?  Are they going to wait until it gets out of hand?  What are they waiting for?”

If this Government can not run TANESCO, then it should consider ending its monopoly and instead allow private energy companies to distribute power in the country.  I cringe when I think of how worse it will get with the rainy seasons ahead of us.

For how long will this chronic problem of frequent power interruptions continue?  Nguvu mpya, kasi mpya indeed.

~ by saharasoulfood on December 9, 2007.