Shein inaugurates major power projects in Pemba

By Felister Peter

Zanzibar President Dr Ali Mohamed Shein

As part of his election campaigns, Zanzibar President Dr Ali Mohamed Shein has launched two major power projects at Panza and Makoongwe Islands within Mkoani District, South Pemba Region.

Dr Shein is vying for Zanzibar’s top job through Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) in the General Election scheduled for October 25. Voters are expected to elect councilors, Members of Parliament and the President.

Dr Shein said completion of the power projects was clear testimony of the commitment of the government and the ruling party, CCM, to ‘wananchi’.

“I have done what I promised in 2010…we have succeeded to connect power in all the three Islands of Pemba,” he said, naming them as Ponza, Makoongwe and Kojani.

He said the electricity has been transmitted from Pangani in Tanga Region and passed under the Indian Ocean. He said to ensure efficiency in Zanzibar.

Electricity Corporation (ZECO) has also installed two transformers with capacities of 100KV each.

There are 1,100 eligible voters in Panza and 600 in Makoongwe Island.

Dr Shein said the government has resolved to provide loans to residents for power connection. They would be required to repay the loans in phases, he said.

He said more than 1.128bn/- has been spent for the power project at Panza and 855m/- for that in Makoongwe Island. He said funds for the electricity project in Panza were provided by ZECO. It provided 523, 849, 410/- while the government of Zanzibar provided 604, 960, 764/-, he said.

“The national power firm has so far connected electricity to more than 115 households in Mkoongwe,” said Dr Shein. He hoped that with availability of electricity residents would conduct income generating activities and improve their livelihood.

Earlier, the Minister for Lands, Settlement, Water and Energy, Ramadhan Abdallah Shaaban, said the projects have been implemented since 2012 and  were completed last July.

He noted that installation of electric equipment was done by local professionals from ZECO, enabling the government to save 363, 832, 917/- that was to be paid to contractors.

Shaaban noted that Zanzibar has a total of 20MW of electricity, but so far its demand is 7MW only.

He urged residents in both Zanzibar and Pemba Islands to make full use of electricity by establishing small-scale businesses, telling them: “With reliable power you can now do business. We expect that the electric power will make our students perform well at school and other educational institutions as they will comfortably study while at home.”  

According to ZECO, the cost of electricity in Zanzibar is 66/- per unit for those purchasing between 1 and 50 units while it is 400/- per unit for buyers of more than 50 units. Between one and 1,500 units the cost is 222/- while that of buying more than 1,500 units is 240/- per unit.

ZECO also charges 169/- per unit for purchase of between one and 10,000 units while it charges 141/- per unit for purchase of more than 10,000 units.

In another development, the government has succeeded to provide clean and safe water to 70 percent of rural dwellers and 80 percent for those in urban areas of both Pemba and Unguja Islands.

The Managing Director of the Zanzibar Water Authority, Omary Bakari Mshindo, revealed this to journalists who visited the just completed water project at Tafifu area in Micheweni District.

Mshindo said the imposing water project ensures availability of clean and safe water to 70, 852 people. He said its total cost was 18.836bn/- of which 14.9bn/- was paid to its contractor and supervisor.

He said a total of 18 deep wells were constructed in urban areas and 14 in rural areas, with water users required to pay 4,000/- per month.

He explained that water availability in Northern Unguja had increased to 22,900,000 litres from 14,952,000 litres per day, equal to 53 percent. However, in South Unguja it has increased by only five percent to 14,300,000 litres per day from 13,574,000 litres, Mshindo added.