Africa-Press – Tanzania. A TEAM of former Presidents and Prime Ministers yesterday visited construction site of the ongoing 2115 Megawatts (MW) Julius Nyerere Hydroelectric Power Project (JNHPP) in Morogoro, showering praise to the late Dr John Magufuli for bold decision to initiate it for the benefit of Tanzanians.
The leaders who included former President Ali Hassan Mwinyi, Dr Jakaya Kikwete, ex-Premiers Cleopa Msuya, John Malecela and Mizengo Pinda visited the 17th mega flagship project being implemented in the government’s third Five-Year Development Plan (FYDP III) launched recently in Dodoma by the Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa.
Implementation of the strategic development project aims at enabling the country to register massive economic growth, particularly in areas where power supply is required 100 per cent.
It is expected that the power generated from the FYDP III will trigger implementation of several projects and usher in rapid tangible results in the economy. Equally, it envisioned to lower electricity power costs and in turn stimulate economic growth and encourage industrialisation.
The plan that was prepared by the Ministry of Finance and Planning, will be implemented from the current fiscal year (2021/22) to 2025/26 with the theme- ‘Competitiveness and Industrialisation for Human Development’ taking over from the FYDP II that was implemented between 2015/16 and 2020/21.
Commenting, former President Mwinyi said the country is grateful for the efforts put in realising the project, whose completion is envisioned to open various opportunities and benefit both the current and future generations.
He said it was important for the current leaders to promote the investment whose implementation was initiated by the late President Magufuli and now sustained by President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
“The project is a miracle to the development of the country; most of the people who work here are local youths, something that is very encouraging.
Parents should continue taking their children to school for the country to have more experts in the future,” he pointed out.
His sentiments were backed by Dr Kikwete who applauded the boldness exemplified by the late Dr Magufuli to look for funds for the implementation of the scheme as well his successor President Samia who is finalising it.
“I am confident that President Samia is ensuring its execution in line with objectives of her predecessor and it will be completed on time…I urge people to protect the water sources at Rufiji River,” he added.
In a related development, the former President pledged to raise funds for the completion of the project, saying: “The idea of constructing the power scheme was coined from the Founding Father of the Nation, the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere to curb flooding effects at the Rufiji River.”
On his part, Mr Pinda noted that the government needs to raise awareness in the public on the project so that people see its benefits in overcoming environmental effects.
Hence, he urged the Ministry of Energy and the National Environment Management Council (NEMC) as well as the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT) to introduce a special agricultural corridor that considers proper environmental management at the Kilombero and Rufiji area.
Mr Malecela said the project is considered as one of the national values in further strengthening the economy of the country in the various sectors including agriculture and tourism among many others.
“This is a very big project since attaining independence, the fact that its implementation is carried out using its own sources of revenues is very encouraging,” noted Mr Malecela.
Mr Msuya emphasized on the need for the Ministry of Agriculture to make use of the Rufiji River Basin to widen irrigation farming in the country.
On his part, Energy Minister, Dk Medard Kalemani said the implementation of the project currently stands at 53 per cent, adding that the contractor has received 100 per cent payment for every stage completed.
Elaborating, the minister said the mega project is one of the four largest schemes being implemented in the continent and expected to be completed on June 14, 2022 at a cost of 6.5tri/-, adding that to date the contractor has received a total of 2.5tri/-.
The project is undertaken jointly by the Arab Contractors and Elsewedy Electric companies all from Egypt and supervised by Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (Tanesco), Tanzania National Roads Agency (Tanroads) and the ministry of Energy.
