Ten experts appointed to deal with REA saga

Investigations are now launched over the allegedly malicious contractors who breached the contents of the National rural power supply deal. The Director General of the Rural Energy Agency (REA), Dr Lutengano Mwakahesya said last week in Dar es salaam end this week, that the energy had dispatched a team of  ten experts in the alleged faulty four regions with an aim to unearth the raw information which could vital to legal  summons. “The allegations raised by the Parliamentary standing committee on Energy and minerals on Monday this week that some contracted firms were still charging villagers Tsh. 200.000 up to Tsh 300,000 as cost of one electricity supply poles have shocked REA Management and… “We have sent a team of ten experts to investigate the saga hopefully we’ll get correct information soon.” He said . Dr Mwakahesya said that the allegations were surrounding four regions that included Mwanza, Simiyu, Sengerema- Geita region and Shinyanga,  In the list of allegedly law breaking contractors, Dr Mwakahesya noted that  one firm, NAMIS Corporate Limited was among others in the list, declining to disclose the remaining saying, factors on the ground were still not rip enough “ let’s wait for the experts report first we’ll get the truth.’’ He said  On the other hand in different occasions when interviewed, the managing Director for NAMIS Corporate Limited Mr. Thomas Uiso refuted the allegations saying that, those believed that my firm charged the amount for the power supply service should appear from vain and reveal the matter. “Should anybody be sure for paying me any amount to supply him or her with electricity poles, let them come in public with evidence to prove …instead of unnecessary media publications.” He said  On the other side, the firm’s Chief Engineer, Shaidu Luther, speaking with the Guardian on a phone interview  amid this week, said that their firm was not charging the cost for supplying power poles, and admitted that they were charging domestic wiring for individuals who wanted so …in their private houses.   The wrangle of words between REA and the power supply contractors is coming up just in the same week when the government announced a reduction charges for electricity power service line connection for rural dwellers in the countrywide starting from February 2014 up to may 2015. The Minister for Minerals and Energy Professor Sospeter Muhongo announced last week that, the cost for service line in rural areas would fetch an affordable price of T Sh. 27,000 instead of the formally set forth  T.Sh. 177,000.  The minister said that subseedy was aimed at promoting power utilisation in the rural areas adding that the decision by the government is to revolutionalise national economy as the electricity is a driving engine to achieve a national development vision of 2015. During his Adress to the REA Management. He said the rate of reduction which has come down to approximately 600 percent is to promote “This is not a joke as the government intends to accomplish its vision for development by 2015 that all Tanzanians including rural dwellers should have access to electricity power by 30 percent” he said adding that the use of electricity promotes country’s economic development. However he noted that, up to 2005, only 10 percent of Tanzanians had access to electricity with the rural areas covering 2 percent. He further noted that, as from 2005, the rate of usage has increased by 11 percent and currently stands at 21 percent. “The reduction is only for the people in rural areas who are served under REA’s integrated program whose budget the government had set for Sh. 881 billion for two years respectively which ends up to May 2015” Prof. Muhongo who is a geologist by profession insisted.