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AfDB asked to fund Pemba power project
2006-03-07 09:07:04
By Bilal Abdul-Aziz, Zanzibar
The long awaited power project that would connect the Island of Pemba to the Mainland grid is now a few pylons away following the request for extra funding by the Zanzibar government to the African Development Bank (AfDB) here on Sunday.
The Zanzibar government has already secured USD 1.9 million which is half of the full required for the implementation of the project.
The Zanzibar Chief Minister, Shamsi Vuai Nahodha, made the request during official talks with top officials of the AfDB, who paid a courtesy call at his Stone Town office here yesterday.
’’I present to you this request asking your Bank to provide our government resources for the implementation of the project to connect the Island of Pemba to the national grid,’’ said Nahodha.
He disclosed that inadequate funding was a major obstacle that hindered the implementation of the power supply project, intended to supply the marginalized island with a reliable energy. Currently, Pemba residents depend largely on electricity produced from thermal generators.
’’We have already secured half of the funds from our development partner, the Norway Agency for Development (NORAD). All we need, as far as this project is concerned, is the remaining half,’’ said Nahodha.
Responding to the Chief Minister’s request, the head of the AfDB mission, Ambassador Gerald Zirimwabagabo, said the group would submit the request to the Bank.
’’Your request will be delivered to the bank…we are going to present it in a manner that it will be very difficult for the Bank to reject,” promised Zirimwabagabo.
He added: ’’The new president of the bank is very keen when it comes to bringing bank’s contributions to the grassroots’ poor.’’
The AfDB four-day study tour of Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar that is scheduled to come to an end today, comprises six Executive Directors of the continent’s giant bank, namely ambassadors Cynthia Perry, Gerald Zirimwabagabo, Messrs Francois Arsenault, Phiwayinkosi Ginindza, Barminas Kukuri and Fouad Samir.
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