Meddling in firms criticised

> Mr Lawrence Mafuru (foreground) at the Kinyerezi power generation plant in Dar es Salaam yesterday.Photo by Salim Shao. 

By Saumu Mwalimu

In Summary

Mr Mafuru said their interference disrupted the smooth running of government operations and strategies, consequently hurting implementation of various projects.

Dar es Salaam. Treasury Registrar Lawrence Mafuru said yesterday that politicians should distance themselves from government operations.

Mr Mafuru said their interference disrupted the smooth running of government operations and strategies, consequently hurting implementation of various projects.

He made the remarks during his visit to Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited’s (Tanesco) power substation and generation plants at Ubungo and Kinyerezi .

Mr Mafuru said political decisions destabilize and weaken the performance of public organizations.

According to Mr Mafuru, politicians tend to give instructions that don’t take into consideration technical aspects and long-term plans that were put in place by particular institutions.

“We must support these entities so that they undertake their programmes in line with the professions that guide them. They must be allowed to run on professional guidelines and principles, not political statements or direction,” he said.

He noted that, upon their appointment to particular dockets, some ministers made changes at top management levels of government entities.

The tendency, he pointed out, disrupted the implementation of short and long-term plans.

“Imagine a minister changing directors or relocating officials without being supported by strong professional reasons. Such changes impact negatively on on-going programmes,” said Mr Mafuru.

The Treasury Registrar directed all governmental institutions to clear their bills to Tanesco so as to enable the power utility firm carry out and complete its development projects.

“Current statistics show that many government institutions, including the police and defence forces, owe Tanesco over Sh200 billion,” he said.

Tanesco Projects manager Simon Jilima said completion of power plants projects, which would reduce electricity tariffs, would be completed in June, this year.