Muke Ya Muzungu
JF-Expert Member
- Jun 17, 2009
- 3,444
- 264
Over a year ago, I wrote an article decrying countrys 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 payers expense.
Our leaders are testing peoples 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 cant 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to provide energy to her people, because billions spent on expensive Land-Cruisers, the amounts spent on unwanted, and outdated radars, the money stolen by EPA, Richmond fraudsters would be sufficient to bring to an end, the decades old power problem.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 causes 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