THREE Members of Parliament in Tanga region have expressed their dissatisfaction with the contractor, who has been hired to connect electricity in 79 villages in the region.
The Chinese contract Ton Tan Project Technology Company Limited and Group Six International Limited has been contracted to electrify the villages Rural Electrification Agency (REA III -II) project.
The villages in Korogwe, Mkinga and Pangani districts have been connected by 8 per cent only.
Mkinga Member of Parliament, Dastan Kitandula raised concern on behalf of his fellow legislators in a meeting convened in Mkinga recently, which was attended by three district commissioners, Rural Electrification Agency (REA) Director General and the contractor.
He added: “This is why we organised this meeting with aim of identifying the challenges, which hinder our people from getting power 24 hours on daily basis… although we have been holding various meetings with the contractor, the problem is still becoming chronic.
“We agreed that the contractor must accomplish the work as per contractual agreements, but in vain.”
On his part, Rural Electrification Agency(REA) Director General Hassan Saidy noted that since the issue has become critical they have given the contractor one month notice to speed up implementation of the project.
In response, TonTan Project Technology Limited and Group Six International Limited Managing Director, John Zheng said the delay they were experiencing was as a result of geographical location of the area, which in turn interrupt shipping some electricity accessories from China to site.
He also mentioned the Russia-Ukraine war as another factor slowing the acquisition of materials to the site .