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JK’s intervention in power crisis commendable
2006-11-10 08:57:00
By Editor
The on-going power crisis in Tanzania, which has been caused by falling water levels at Kidatu and Mtera dams, is surely making life difficult for many people as well as threatening the county’s industrial production.
Efforts that have been made so far have not borne much fruit and have been even a cause of controversy.
Nevertheless, we are gratified that President Jakaya Kikwete has seen the need to personally tackle the power problem. His trips to China and South Korea reveal that the problem is not far from his mind.
Yesterday, this paper carried a story from Seoul that stated that the President held direct discussions with executives of Samsung, a Korean multinational, which has shown willingness to install power generating equipment at Kinyerezi in Dar es Salaam.
Earlier, while in Beijing, China, the President was assured by top Chinese leaders that China was prepared to help Tanzania in the generation of electricity using coal at Kiwira in Mbeya Region.
We all hope that the on-going presidential intervention will bear fruit in the near future, so that we do away with the inconveniences that accompany power outage.
It is also our strong expectation that during the fast track talks, and due to the fact that we are somehow disadvantaged during negotiations, that the power agreements shall be made along Tanzania government parameters, and the energy that is going to be produced shall be affordable.
We are quite lucky to have abundant natural gas, so our immediate plans should not only be to curb the country’s power shortage, but also become a major supplier of natural gas in East and Southern Africa.
This can be done provided the country’s interests are protected during the signing of major contracts and if credible firms are employed to provide the required service.
Maintain good image, home and abroad
While in Japan, President Jakaya Kikwete hinted that a Bill would be tabled in Parliament early next year to provide for amendment on the law that established anti graft institutions including the Prevention of Corruption Bureau ( PCB).
The President who was speaking to the business community in a bid to woo Japanese investors said the aim was to review the guidelines for concluding business contracts and re-examine procedures in procuring public goods.
The focus, the President said is to give teeth to the institutions to deal with corruption which is one of the impediments to investment.
This comes at a time when there are growing calls for scrutiny of major contracts, which are—and have been—a potential avenue for grand corruption.
Tanzania should not just aim for a clean foreign image, but also for a positive internal picture in relation to good governance.
It is hoped that the proposed changes will instil vigour in the much awaited anti-corruption drive, and also send a message to white collar criminal hands, entrenched in the government machinery that, gone are the days of turning a blind eye to this nagging problem.
We have to borrow a leaf from Singapore, which merged its investment drive with laying foundations for good governance. The results of that political will remain a lesson for Tanzania.
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