Africa-Press – Tanzania. TANZANIA Electric Company (TENESCO) in Mtwara Region has called on community leaders to team up with the government in addressing vandalism and theft of electricity infrastructures in the area. Tanesco Regional Customer Relation Officer Jumanne Nkunguu made the call here noting that daily vandalism and theft of electricity cables were to blame for them to experience unplanned power outages and leave most areas in dark.
“Power blackouts that we often experience in our region are mostly caused by people, who are vandalising and stealing electricity cables,” he said, noting that the move interrupts power supply to the residents in Mtwara.
Mr Nkunguu made the call in a meeting with village executive leaders and community councillors of Naumbu and Mgao wards over regular occurrence of vandalism and theft of electricity infrastructures in the areas. He said Tanesco has been incurring unplanned costs in fixing the faults caused by vandalism, whenever they receive reports but few days down the line, the repaired areas were again damaged.
“We (power department) are always blamed for power outages, but the reality is we don’t plan such blackouts… vandalism and theft caused by some unscrupulous people compromises our attempts to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the region,” he said.
Hence, he urged the leaders to bring to book suspects to end vandalism and theft of the electricity infrastructures. On the other hand, the Councillor of Naumbu Ward Rashid Abderehemana called for proper channel of communication between electricity officials and the village leaders to prosecute the criminals interfering with electricity infrastructures.
“There is a need to partner with officials from electricity department in your office (TANESCO) and form enforcement to apprehend the criminals,” he said.
He also pointed out the need for public awareness on the importance of protecting electricity infrastructures for proper and stable power supply in the region. “Tanesco has a mandate to educate the residents the need to protect the infrastructures,” he said
