BY THE GUARDIAN REPORTER
27th September 2013
He said the transformation programme aims at ensuring that government efforts in supplying power to the majority of Tanzanians are realised soon.
He acknowledged that Tanesco has passed through very difficult and challenging moments. Now, however, the government has embarked on the programme that is likely to bury the difficult moments, he said.
“As you know, Tanesco has travelled along a dusty and bumpy road and faced a lot of challenges.
But now the government has stepped in to transform the set up of the firm and at the same time review the charges leveled upon it by its consumers. Such transformation is very crucial, and the government is determined to ensure that it completes the transformation soon,” President Kikwete told the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) in New York, United States of America on Wednesday.
He was responding to a question from MCC CEO Daniel Yohannes who wanted to know the steps Tanzania government has taken to address challenges facing Tanesco.
At the meeting with officials of the MCC, the Tanzanian head of State, who is in the US on official visit, said through the Mellinuim Challenge Account Tanzania (MCA (T), the country has moved forward in ensuring that more Tanzanians in rural areas are connected to power.
Kikwete said when he assumed power some seven years ago, only ten percent of the country was connected to the national grid. Currently, 21 percent of Tanzanians access power supply, representing an increase in connectivity by at least 11 percent in the period, which is more than 50 years of the country’s independence.
According to the President, the target is now to ensure that at least 30 percent of Tanzanians get connected to power supply by 2015.
During the meeting, President Kikwete told Yohannes that Tanzania will invest the second phase of the funds from MCA (T) in electricity and the road infrastructure. As for electricity, he said the aim was to enable more rural dwellers get connected to power supply. Road construction in rural areas is to allow farmers to easily transport farm produce to the market.
Tanzania is among the countries that received USD 698 million of the MCC money during the first phase of the funding. It invested the money in electricity, airports, water and roads.
Apart from Tanzania, three countries considered for the second phase of the MCC account are Morocco, Mozambique and Lesotho.
In another development, President Kikwete said Tanzania was doing all it can to combat corruption in the country.
The President was responding to the MCC Managing Director who wanted to know the steps Tanzania had embarked on to ensure corruption is dealt with.
“Efforts to combat corruption are continuous. We have strengthened the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB). My government has also taken to court top government officials and officers to answer corruption and abuse of power charges,” President Kikwete told Yohannes.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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