THE government has set aside 71bn/- to electrify some 400 villages in Mtwara Region, Director General for Rural Energy Agency (REA) Engineer Hassan Saidy has said.
He made the revelation here over the weekend, saying the plan is being executed under REA Phase III, Round two project. The REA boss was speaking during the meeting convened by the agency in Mtwara to discuss the implementation of project (REA phase III Round two).
The meeting was chaired by Mtwara Regional Commissioner Colonel Ahmed Abbas and attended by REA DG, contractors and the members of Parliament from Mtwara Region. According to Engineer Saidy, the project which is already underway is set to connect electricity to 276 villages in Tandahimba, Newala and Mtwara villages at the cost of 42.7bn/-.
Other 124 villages would be connected in Masasi and Nanyamba districts at the cost of 28.3bn/-. “This (71bn/-) is the government money, it’s a lot of money that the state has provided with the aim to ensure Mtwara regional residents are provided with energy as it has done to the rest of the citizens in other Regions,” he said.
Speaking during the meeting, the MPs complained over poor performance of contractors, calling for immediate measures against those who display poor performance.
Nanyumbu MP Mr Yahya Mhata pointed out that the contractor was required to connect 47 villages to power in Nanyumbu Constituency but has failed to meet the agreement, calling upon the government to get rid of the contractor.
“When I became the MP for Nanyumbu, I found 47 villages without electricity, but since then it’s only one village that has been connected to power, the rest are still in darkness,” he said.
Tandahimba MP Katani Katani, insisted the need for the agency (REA) to suspend the contractors and appoint serious contractors to manage the work of connecting electricity to the remaining villages.
“In my constituency, we have 83 villages but to date, the contractor has connected 13 villages,” he said, noting that there is negligence by the contractor in carrying out the work, asking REA to act by firing the contractor for underperforming.
Responding, REA DG vowed to take legal measures against the underperforming and sluggish contractors. “We shall conduct an assessment on the value of the work done and take legal measures,” he said.
