'It’s a big test, TANESCO’s new boss admits in advance'

THE newly-appointed acting managing director of the Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (TANESCO), Dr Tito Mwinuka, yesterday laid down his priority areas as he takes up one of the most sensitive public leadership positions in the land. Speaking to The Guardian in an interview in his new Dar es Salaam office, the former University of Dar es Salaam senior lecturer acknowledged that his appointment, “which I did not expect”, was a big test and challenge for him personally.
“By its very nature, TANESCO is not an easy company to run, but I cannot afford to let the president and Tanzanians down,” he said.
Speaking of his priorities, Dr Mwinuka said expanding the country’s power production capacity was one of them with a view to having surplus power that can be sold to neighbouring countries which are in demand for electricity.
For that to happen, he added, the focus will be on changing a ‘business-as-usual’ culture at TANESCO which has proved to be endemic in many public offices.
“Without efficiency in everything we do, it will all be a waste of time and I was not appointed to come and waste time here,” asserted the new TANESCO supremo.
Dr Mwinuka was on Sunday named by President Magufuli as successor - in an acting capacity - to Felchesmi Mramba, the state-run power utility firm’s previous MD whom the president abruptly sacked on the same day in the midst of a power tariff hike saga.
Under Mramba, TANESCO last year asked for an 18.19 per cent power tariff increase to help break a loss-making trend and clear a mountain of debts amounting to billions of shillings owed to a number of independent power producers and fuel suppliers.
The power utility warned at the time that its “financial capacity” could become “paralysed” if the power tariff hike was not implemented. But the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA) – also state-run - approved a lower hike of 8.5 per cent, giving the go-ahead for its implementation to begin on January 1.
This go-ahead was however revoked by energy and minerals minister Prof Sospeter Muhongo on December 31 – the day before its implementation was set to begin. Mramba was then sacked the following day.
Speaking to The Guardian yesterday, Dr Mwinuka said his initial observations indicated that there was substantial wastage of both electricity and finances within TANESCO, a trend that must be reversed if the company is to make it to the coveted list of best-run government firms as per his own vision.
He warned all debtors owing the company arrears in unpaid bills that he will be coming after them with new resolve. “Prepare those cheques because, under my leadership, there will be no other way but to pay up,” he stated.
He also had some “friendly advice’ for fake electricians known as ‘quacks’ or vishoka (in Kiswahili) who tend to collude with unscrupulous customers to defraud the power company by wiring them up to get electricity for free. 
“Stay away from TANESCO... get yourself a job,” was Mwinuka’s message to those so-called quacks 
Five killed, 6 sustain severe injuries as mine collapses
FIVE people alleged to be illegal miners were killed and six others were severely injured when an abandoned gold mine collapsed in Nzega District, Tabora Region, authorities have said. Tabora Regional Police Commander John Bwire confirmed the incident, saying it happened when an abandoned mine collapsed on Thursday, last week, at around 1 PM.
He said that the accident occurred when illegal miners sneaked into the abandoned mine. The mine was abandoned four years ago and the government had already banned mining activities in the area for security reasons.
Nzega District Commissioner Godfrey Ngupulla said the miners were killed after a heap of rocks collapsed and buried them as they were busy with mining activities inside the mine.
The collapsed mine had been under Resolute mining company, which ended its operations in Nzega District, Tabora Region, following the expiry of the mine’s lifespan in 2012.
According to the official, the government banned mining activities in the area for safety reasons, though there are reports that some miners have been secretly entering the area.
“Five people died and six others survived the accident and were rushed to Nzega District Hospital for treatment,” he said.
Regional mining officer Clement Mayala said the government banned mining activities in the area for safety reasons as the mine walls were weak and could not withstand mining activities anymore.