Over a year ago, I wrote an article decrying country’s energy crisis. I am once again forced to revisit the same topic; using the same words that, no nation is in position to make economic progress where there is no reliable supply of energy. Especially at this age, and point in time. More than ninety percent of Tanzanians for that matter have been in the darkness since the beginning of time, and little has been done to end their nightmare. Shocking enough, a few persons tasked with the responsibility to end the crisis have been taking advantage of the situation by continuing to line their pockets at the tax payer’s expense.

Our leaders are testing people’s will, patience and resolve. The nation cannot be in the darkness while TANESCO entrusted with the task to providing power is but a “Corruption Project”. I am made to understand that, the architects and powerful names behind Richmond and now DOWANS may never face justice. They may, however, be awarded tax payers 185 Billion shillings. The only question I struggle with is, why pay them that kind of money, and for what

The common man, the poor, and the powerless who can’t afford expensive generators, and do not reside in the affluent parts of the city where power is never off, have been left to dance the tune of power rationing year after year. What a shame for a nation blessed with many rivers, abundant fossil fuel deposits, and renewable sources of energy sufficient to power the entire nation and its neighbors for centuries?

Research centers, communication facilities, Factories and other businesses need constant and reliable energy supply to meet their production quotas, to retain the labor force; pay workers, and be able to compete in the domestic and international markets. The current environment of two to four hours a day, couple of days a month of electricity cannot foster economic progress. Something needs to be done, not today or tomorrow, but yesterday. The country needs reliable electricity, full stop.

Tanzania has financial capability to provide energy to her people, because billions spent on expensive Land-Cruisers, the amounts spent on unwanted, and outdated radars, the money stolen by EPA, Richmond fraudsters would be sufficient to bring to an end, the decades old power problem. The problem is simply the management; greedy, irresponsible, less visionary leadership thinking of today and not the future.

These are the root cause of the misery the country is in today. Our leaders are drunk with power. They are considering themselves masters rather than servants. If they love the country, and sincere into their public service, then TANESCO simply need disburdenment. The Minister of energy must take appropriate actions against the officials in his ministry who have shown gross incompetence, and abuse of public trust. Those implicated in various energy scams brought to justice.

Economic and Strategic security of a nation depends on energy independence, and sustainability. We must therefore realize this, and prosecute Dowans, and Richmond architectures who are toying with national security. Tanzanian parliament, vested with powers to uphold and protect the constitution, must fight for our nation held hostage by a few corrupt individuals. The parliament must unequivocally, and aggressively deliberate on bills calling for prosecution of the economic criminals who are pushing the nation deeper into the darkness.

We must stop being a nation that celebrates rich and powerful criminals, while condemning to petty thieves, harassing and punishing young men whose crime is to sell bottles of water in Kariakoo to feed their children. We must not compromise our beliefs and morals for the political winds that are only seasonal, let your consciousness rule supreme. The parliament must be sacrificial, act swiftly and fast to turn on the lights for all Tanzanians, otherwise we are sad to say, that the nation will continue to remain in the darkness.

Failure to address energy crisis, will boil and push the nation into a point of no return, When people will be inclined to take power into their own hands, to turn on the lights; and that will be too little too late to salvage the situation. Political winds can be deceiving; our politicians must read the signs on the wall, telling them clearly, that the nation is rapidly descending into the dark ages, as the voices of the tax payers financing their lucrative positions shouting TURN ON THE LIGHTS. This is my perspective, what is yours?

Mungu Ibariki Tanzania
John Mashaka
Mashaka.john@yahoo.com

Michuzi Blog

Tanzanian blog operating since 2005, covering International news and Local News, including Politics, Fashion, Social Scenes, Interviews, Movies, Events, personalities and anything positive happening worldwide. Written in Swahili and English targeting both Swahili and English readers.

Toa Maoni Yako:

Kuna Maoni 23 mpaka sasa

  1. Alice Maleko (masomoni Malaysia )December 17, 2010

    Ndugu wana Blog. kwakweli sasa nimeamini kuwa vijana wetu john Mashaka na Dr Shayo kwa mara nyingine tena wametupa tena hii fursa ya kufikiria na kutathmini changamoto zilizoko mbele ya taifa hili la watanzania.

    Bila shaka wangekuwepo akina mashaka na shayo katika sehemu mbali mbali zenye kufanya maamuzi yenye utaifa , bila shaka awamu hii ya nne iliyoko chini ya Mh.Dr. Jakaya Kikwete ingepiga hatua.
    NAwapongeza sana kwa mchango wenu huu.

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  2. THIS IS A NICE ATIKO.

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  3. tanzania sirudi ng'o. mkae na giza lenu. ufisadi utafikili hamna akiri? mashaka piga kerere rakini umeme haupatikani. inakera kweri. mimi markia ananitunza sina shida

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  4. JOHN,I AGREE WITH YOU ON MOST STUFFS YOU PRESENTED.MY ONLY CONCERN IS HOW VAGUELY YOU DISCUSSED THE COMPLAINTS AND I'D PREFER TO FIND THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS BE ELABORATED EXTENSIVELY.

    HOW RELIABLE SOURCE OF ENERGY CAN COMPLEMENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.....I KNOW YOUR CONCERNS OUTRIGHTLY HOWEVER,DISCUSSING IRRELEVANT ISSUES,DON'T REALLY HELP ON HERE.

    WHY DO YOU THINK OF THE STATUS QUO...INSTEAD OF MENTIONING INCOMPETENCY,SUGGEST FACTS TO BASE YOUR ARGUMENTS FOR,YOU CAN'T REALLY STATE THE TRAIT IF THERE AREN'T ANY PERFORMANCE MEASURES....THE REOCCURING BLACKOUTS COULD BE EXERCEBATED BY NUMBER UPGRADES,SAFETY MEASURES,ACCIDENTS ETC..

    YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN OF DRIVING FORCES BEHIND STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS AND COUNTER THEM FIRST...WHY THE IMPLICATED FIRMS TO THE SCANDAL ARE ARE AT LARGE AND BEING REWARDED.....

    IN MY OPINION,THERE ISN'T COMPETITION IN THE ENERGY PROVISION SECTOR...TRY TO CORRELATE WITH HOW TTCL WAS THEN BEFORE THE INFLUX OF MOBILE PHONE COMPETITORS....

    I MUST ADMITT,I KNOW MOST OF THE ABOVE WITH AN EXCEPTION OF WISHING TO READ MORE ON YOUR ARTICLE...WELLCOME BACK BRO

    Mdau(John)uk

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  5. Excellent John. This is flowless. The only question, who are yu writing this artifle for? Our leaders are dumb dont understand matters of this level. they are thinking of their stomachs

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  6. john mashaka ni shujaa wangu,
    tanesco mjibuni hoja
    nyambaff

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  7. Nabii Yhana Mashaka, you idea is vere good, but the tanzania peoples are not thinking of the electric bill and tanesco pays downs with corruption. we love to see the diffrent minister to change tanesco. we are tired man. all of u in amerca to come and invest in the electic bills in tanzania to solves the problem.

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  8. USIRUDI TANZANIA, BAKI HUKO HUKO UTUMWANI WEE M T U M WA KWANZA HATUWATAKI MNATUJAZIA NAFASI BURE.

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  9. Du tz kaz kweli.
    Jamani hivi ninyi mlioko serikalini hasa kuanzia raisi na wengineo amuoni matatizo ya umeme jamani. Hatuta kuja kuendelea lakini nasema sikutukiwatoa madarakani itakuwa ndo mwisho wenu kuonekana tena, kuanzia wakuu wamikoa, makatibu tawala, wakuu wa wilaya na kadhalika. Tz ufisadi mtupu, wizi mtupu ninyi subirini tu ninaimani tutawatoa sikusi chache hacha tutoe elimu kwawatz walioko vijijini kwan ndowanao wapa ninyi jeuri ya kukaa madarakani.
    WABUNGE WANAKAA DAR, MIJINI WAKATI JIMBO LAKE NI KIJIJINI NDANI HUKO HAJUI SHIDA YEYE, HII KAZ KWELI.
    TUNAITAJI MABADIRIKO HAKUNA KUONEANA AIBU HATA KAMA BABA/MAMA YANGU KAFANYA UFISADI NITAMFUNGA TU SITAJALI NANI KWAN TZ NI YAWATZ WOTE SIO YA UKOO.
    NINAONGEA KWAUCHUNGU NAPIA NINYI USALAMA WA TAIFA/POLISI/JWTZ/MAHAKAMA INABIDI MUWE KIPEKEE KWAMBA MKIONA KUNAUCHAFU UNAFANYIKA SERIKALINI TOENI TAMKO, NATAMANI KUONA VYOMBO HIVYO SIKU MOJA VINAKUA HURU KWA MAAMUZI HAKUNA KUTEGEMEA SIJUI RAISI AU NANI KWAN RAISI YUPO CHINI YA KATIBA.
    MUNGU IBARIKI TZ NA WATU WAKE HASA WALIOKO VIJIJINI AMBAKO HAKUNA MAJI SAFI, SHULE, BARABARA, MAKAZI BORA, NK.

    mapinduzi daima, hakuna kulala vijana watz hata kama tupo tunabeba box, lakini tunaumia na nyumbani mambo yalivyo.

    mdau,

    europe.

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  10. This is John at the best. I strong applause this argument, it's obvious that Tanzanian are sick and tired of the same old game that our government is playing.

    To make the point clear, since independent Tanesco saved only 14% of only Tanzanian. That number hasn't increased for decades. You know why? Because Tanesco is still operating under subsidy of Tax payer money. Years ago i argued that Tanesco should be split into three parts. Producer, supplier and retailer. Producer should be Tanzania government because there is a lot of national security issues in here to privatize will be risk. Supplier can be more than one but retailer need to be open for any energy company which wanna engage on this. Government should sell energy under certain price and retailer should compete to increase market niche.

    That simple idea is used in USA and Australia adopted years ago.

    From economic prospective it's obvious that we can't grow our baby economy with power out half a year. We are losing a chunky amount of Tax because all the cost that Investors are incur due to generator expense are deducted in their P&L and final tax bracket shrink. That is Balance sheet one or one.

    Poor Tanzania.

    Mchumi wa Texas

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  11. Kama lahana zipo I am sure TZ tumelahaniwa. Why can't we put our act together? Na kwanini mawaziri walipwe mamillion wakati hatuna umeme?
    Mashaka u nailed it again.

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  12. Dr. JK, vijana kama kama hawa ungewarudisha nchini.
    Prof. Nyangoro,
    Prof. Mbele
    Na wengine wengi wangerudi nchini ili mawazo yao yawe na tija kwa taifa. ni watu muhimu sana, hasa kundi la john mashaka na vijana wengine wengi

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  13. Once again i read nice article Johnmashaka, with simple english which everybody can understand, i understand your crucial point of electricity which is main problem for the our nation.
    I dont know during the election our leader talk too much but when their get power the dont do anything. the issue is very simple the agenda of the governmeny is to implement plan which can bring positive direction or development for the contry interest, can be i term of politically,socially,culturally,and the main is economy.
    But the question which i ask my self how can you want to implement positive strategic plan while you dont solve permanent desease (cancer) of the nation?. Now citizen there tired about every thing no more politics, no more speech, no more research what we want is electricity, simple.
    advantage of electricity power i can explain as following.
    Economically.
    Industries development, due to availability of eletricity power it hence quick and lower cost of industries development in different sectors, that development will provide employment for our people, increase creativity research for the university, and globally industries competition, also will attract huge numbers of investors. Because people want to invest to the country which has stable economy and security.
    For the Government will get benefit of receive tax such as corporation tax, and VAT,increase numbers of business activities and flow of cash.
    Accordinglly to the Law of supply state that increase of supply will depend cost of production, so avalability of sufficiency energy will influence huge supply of goods and service in the country. Hence it incerese export and decrease imports and it lead to growth of GDP.
    Security context, due to reduction of number of unemployment people it results of decrease of criminality activities.
    Leaders are not the owner of the country the main responsibilities and objective is to expertise knowlge experience, qualification for the best interest of the organisation. Leaders must ensure their provide the highest degree standard of service in order citizen(client) and employers (Governement) receive advantage of comptent professional intergrity service.
    mbeba maboksi student Virginia

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  14. Mashaka,I repeat, like last time,you have clearly stated that this is YOUR perspective.I am still waiting for ideas from our side to remedy the power crisis.All i read is people start giving opinion about YOU. good debate

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  15. It is sad to see this topic coming back for discussion, as we were once told that the problem of power shortage in the country was over. Well done to the gentleman (Mashaka) who always bring hot topics in this forum.
    It does not click on anyone's mind that regardless of how good the rainy season was/is, how much is spent on servicing cheap generators bought/rented; we are still in DARKNESS!! This is a shame.
    Our leaders decided that we stay in darkness, and as they only see the light, we will never see the light until something is done in the regime.
    The only problem here is, scandals such as Richmond, Dowans, EPA and many more are well known and the public know well about it; but what is done to resolve this? Instead there's political manoeuvres to make sure that the public is kept in darkness about any proceedings. No government on earth would have continued to pay RICHMOND after discovering that they cheated in the bidding process, and hence they should not have been awarded the tender. Most importantly, the company should be the one paying the government as it posed as a legitimate company while it was not.
    Saying all that, it is beyond belief that Tanesco is still paying Richmond, and at the same time Tanzanian's are facing the highest unit tariff in the region, experiencing power cut 4 days out of seven; and yet we still talk of fighting poverty. HOW? our leaders, HOW CAN WE?
    Mungu Ibariki Tanzania

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  16. Asante Mashaka ila next time tumia lugha ya mama yaani kimatumbi hii slavely language tuitumie tunapokutana nao wenye lugha yao. Zaidi ya hapo wewe ni mwerevu!! BIG UP Man

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  17. I could'nt agree with you more,John.As what you have writen is not enough,it was completely laughable to hear Dr.Kikwete announcing his cabinet.He splited the departiment of transportation into two for it was too big and tiresome for one minister to handle,so he appointed two ministers, two depute ministers,two secretaries, and hopefully two directors.Half of them will deal with railways I gues and water ways and the ather half with roadways and airports.It is not fair to compare the poorest nation with the richest one in the hemisphere,but for the sake of the argument just imagine Dr. Kikwete becomes the president of the United States.How many members of cabinet will he need? If one educated person cannot handle two poor international airports and a few dusty local ones,how many ministers Dr Kikwete will need to control 15,000 flights in air per minute in the US?.How many defence ministers will he need for military base,nuclear weapons,two wars,air craft carriers,drones,military recruitment facilities,and don't ask don't tell? Zanzibar has only 1 million people,but they have 16 members of cabinet with their 9 deputy ministers.What if the president of Zanzibar becomes the president of The United States with 300 million people.I gues he may need 16 x 300 ministers.By the way America has only 16 ministers.They serve money in order to assist poor governments like Tanzania who have 40 or more ministers for the expence of poor tax payers.Back to Mashaka's point,innadequate power leads to poor industrial development,this means a ditch of poverty is being dug deeper and deeper for mojority of Tanzanians while the establishment bocomes inreasingly not only richer,but also poerful.

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  18. we are talking about 40mil ppl, in which 30% could be power users like hospitals, military and industrial regions. Let 1 company produce and sell electricity, ppl have money, I'm willing to pay as long whenever i need is just a flip of a switch.

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  19. ukiona watu hawachangii ni kwa sababu labda hawajaelewa au HAKUNA JIPYA lililoandikwa...

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  20. ........agreed ! hakuna jipya!!

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  21. lyimo Grace( Australia)December 18, 2010

    hi wanablog, ukweli ni kuwa njia pekee ya kuleta mapinduzi ya fikra ni kuzienzi jitihada za hawa vijana wetu akina mashaka, dr. shayo, makamba nk nk. tatizo uwelewa wa vijana wetu hawa ni wa hali ya juu ila si wote watawaelewa kwa sasa.

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  22. Issue hapa sio kulalamika tu......
    Wekeni michanganuo ya kisomi ya miradi mbadala ya umeme mnayoifahamu tofauti na hii ya kibongobongo kwenda kununua na kuendesha nchi kwa umeme wa generator.
    Bro Michu,Kuna watu hapa wanachangia kama wanasiasa wakati najua ni wasomi wazuri sana na ni vichwa vya kuotea mbali.Ila inanikera pale ambapo watu wazungumzia tatizo tu na kulaumu watu kwanza bila kutuonyesha njia mbadala inayopimika ya kupata umeme.
    Wanalaumu watu kana kwamba tukiwafunga hao mafisadi ndio umeme utawaka,Hapa hatuko sawa.
    Tujadili tatizo na solution yake.
    Sasa hivi hatuna umeme wa uhakika hilo tunalijua, Je? tunapataje umeme wa uhakika,au tuendelee kununua majenerator kuendesha inchi, tusijadili watu hapa! vinginevyo kila siku tuandika na kuchangia bila suluhu.Hawa waliotuibia tutawafunga tu kwakua vielelezo vyote vipo,hawa ni wahujumu tu wasitupotezee muda wa kufikiria vitu mbadala.inauma sana,ila tupate umeme kwanza halafu ndo tugeuke na kudeal na hawa wahujumu.

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  23. Mashaka,
    Thanks for the well written article in a proffesional manner. Its no secret, kuwa Tanzania tuna matatizo/kero nyingi sana.Mimi huwa nashangaa viongozi huwa wanachukua hatua gani watu wanavyolalamika kiasi hiki katika kusuluhisha au kutafutia ufumbuzi hizi kero.

    JK, wewe ndio sasa mkuu wa nchi kwa miaka mingine mitano. Tunaomba ufanye kazi, tumia maproffesional outside the system the likes of Mashaka kama washauri kwa uliowateua madarakani. Tunaelewa kuwa kunaweza kuwa na washauri lakini unda think tankers yenye kujumuisha watu wenye itikadi tofauti kwa ajili ya kusaidia katika kutatua kero kede kede zinazoikumba nchi yetu. Tuacha ushabiki, am sorry to say wa vyama. Kama unaona mtu wa chama fulani ataweza kusaidia kuleta michango itakayosaidia kutupeleka mbele, mtumie huyo mtu. Tufikirie the future, na tuache mtazamo wa mwisho wa pua, Inchi inaangamia.
    Kuwa muwazi katika kusema matatizo ye nchi hata katika luninga, ili wananchi wachangie jinsi tunaweza kujikamua na hii hali.

    Lakini kazi kubwa uliyonayo ni kuhakikisha uwajibikaji wa viongozi, na watu wawe tayari kuwa accountable kama wameshindwa kazi. Acha kulea watu ambao positive outoputs hazionekani. Ungefanya hivyo toka miaka mitano iliyopita nadhani leo tungekuwa tumepiga hatua angalau. Mfano wengine unawawajibisha kwa kutoka kwenye ministry lakini unakuta bado wako within system, kwa namna hii uzozo utatokaje?????
    Mimi inaniuma sana nikifikira nchi yetu inapokwenda, sio siri inaelekea kubaya. Ni aibu watoto na watoto wao, wakapokuwa hawana la kujisifia ya wazazi na mababu zao. Wataishia kutoa tathmini ya utajiri wa nchi, lakini watasema wazazi wetu walishindwa kuutumia ipasavyo utajiri wa nchi badala yake wachache walioko madarakani ndio walioneemeka. Itakuwa ni aibu kubwa kwa kweli. To face the truth, sasa hivi ni aibu tupu...

    Sasa hivi kila sekta ya serikali ni uozo, sio ardhi, miundo mbinu n.k
    Nikitoa mfano, miundo mbinu serikali inajisifu inajenga barabara, shule n.k lakini tuwe wakweli ni katika kiwango gani hizo shule zinajengwa, wengi tumejionea the outcomes are a shame...ni kama ule msemo bora "shule" sio shule "bora".
    Mashaka umeongea point tuna viongozi wanaofikiria ya leo sio kesho. Mfano juzi nasikiliza redio, mimi sina fani ya umeme lakini nasikia Mwanza kuna kituo cha umeme cha megawati kumi na...kitafunguliwa. Namba aliyotaja haikufika ishirini. Sasa najiuliza sijui mambo ya nishati lakini megawati zinazotajwa ni ndogo sidhani kama wanavyofungua hicho kituo wanafikiria for the future, yaani kukidhi mahitaji ya miaka 25/50 baadae. To me they are thinking in short term instead of coming with long term plans.

    Kitu kingine Rushwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa jamani imezidi, inaitafuna nchi yetu kwa kasi ya kutisha. Mimi naamini Raisi anaweza kubadilisha mwelekeo huu similar na anavyofanya Rais wa Rwanda. Kwa nini Kagame aweze sie tushindwe.

    Yaani siku hizi ukisikia huduma fulani inaboreshwa acha kuboreshwa hata huduma zilizopo, wewe mwananchi wa kawaida jua kabisa kuipata hiyo huduma lazima utoe chochote. Mfano rahisi leseni mpya za magari zilizotoka. kila unaeonana nae ambae amepata leseni, majority wanasema ilibidi watoe chochote.

    Mfano mwingine kupata vibali vya ujenzi, wengine wanaomba mpaka laki 5 eti kusaidia kibali cha ujenzi kitoke mapema...huu si upumbavu jamanii..kwanini uongozi unaruhusu tufikie hali hii. Jibu ni simple, kwa sababu nao wanakumbatia rushwa, ni sehemu ya maisha yao. Ikiwezekana kudhibiti wale wa juu, then obvious na wa chini watabadilika. kama ulaji unatukuzwa juu, unategemea hali gani kwa wale wa chini??


    Mimi ninachosema uongozi uache usanii, na kazi sasa ifanyike. Wananchi wamechoka, na msiwachokonoe. I believe mnajua madhara ya kuwachokonoa watu, itafika point itakuwa ENOUGH is ENOUGH na msiwalaumu wananchi, NYINYI ndio mtakaokuwa mmesababisha hali itakayotokea.

    Asante Mashaka hizi article mwenye uchungu na nchi zitamgusa lakini kama kazi yake ni kuiba ipo siku machozi na manung'uniko ya wananchi yatakuwa juu yao.

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