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End scrap metal dealers` heydays
2007-10-22 09:34:40
By Editor
In the past few years, the scap iron export business has been blamed for the existence of one problem or another.
This time around, a senior Tanesco official has singled out scrap metal dealers for the pillaging of Tanesco`s major power transit cables in certain areas of Kilimanjaro Region.
The vandalism has led to unwarranted power cuts as unscrupulous individuals exploit loopholes in the country’s law enforcement system.
Months ago, some godowns in Kurasini, Dar es Salaam, were rocked by bomb blasts when hand grenades, which were piled among huge stocks of scrap iron which was presumably intended for export, went off.
Subsequent investigations revealed that the bombs had been smuggled in possibly from the neighbouring war-torn countries.
The other possibility was that the conmen working in the country’s security organs had sold these to unsuspecting scrap metal dealers.
In the latter case, it was sheer luck that the grenades did not explode when they were already part of ship`s cargo, when a vessel was already in the high seas.
We mention this probability to stress the danger which the poorly regulated scrap iron business can bring to people`s lives and property.
Even the on-going vandalism of Tanesco`s power distribution network is not without human costs, as we always hear or read about fatal fire outbreaks that have been caused by unexplained power blackouts.
The usual question has been: for how long will our society tolerate this vandalism?
Nevertheless, if the whole issue is viewed from the precipice, it will dawn upon all sober minds that the main cause for the two above-mentioned misfortunes is the free for all scrap metal business, such that it is now threatening our power distribution network.
Much as we all know of the existence of this problem, it seems that those who have the solution in their hands are yet to be impressed about the need to put the whole ill-fated business to an end, otherwise the very economy of our country will be adversely affected for no apparent reason, given the fact that assured power supply is the engine of the country’s development.
We are at a loss to understand why the export of scrap metal should not be halted at all costs, given the fact that it is clear that the authorities have failed to effectively monitor and regulate this trade, such that it has completely spun out of control.
We don`t want to believe that the authorities have run out of authority or that they are still battling to arrive to a once-for-all solution.
What we are seeing is the downplaying of a serious issue like this one. We wish the relevant government organs take their work seriously enough.
Protecting a country`s power network as well as putting to an end a trade operation that causes such problems is a matter that leaves no options, except taking to task the major exporters, who are associated with the problem in one way or another.
To put everything in a nutshell, we call on the authorities to apply the solution suggested above, otherwise let them disband the uncontrolled scrap metal trade for the sake of protecting lives and preserving progress which the country has attained so far.
We don’t have to import much needed Tanesco equipment, only to see it ‘given’ on a silver platter to uncouth, non-patriotic vandals, who pose as scrap metal dealers.
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