Shirika la Umeme Zanzibar ZECO likitumbuiza
The performance of the Zanzibar Electricity Corporation has been called into question as a large number of citizens raise concerns about unsatisfactory services.
Information from ZECO says that customers who request to have meters closed in their streets are waiting for a long time, some two, three to six months.
In addition to meters, other services including emergency maintenance, customers are reporting that ZECO technicians take a long time to fix.
More information gathered from within the organization shows that there have been some groups that threaten the efficiency of the work while the staff themselves, especially at the lower level, complain about the poor support they get, along with delays in dealing with their various claims.
The second vice president of Zanzibar and the leader of government businessmen in the Council, recently in December 2022 said that the government was making efforts to ensure that there are equal opportunities in providing public services.
Recently, the government of Zanzibar reduced the cost of electricity connection, a program that had a specific objective to create an environment for customers to access electricity service.
“The government has reduced electricity costs for its citizens. Now it is the responsibility of the Zanzibar Electricity Corporation (ZECO) to ensure that citizens who need electricity are connected immediately after making a payment. There should be no unnecessary delays,” he said and asked the workers to abandon corruption, theft and bureaucracy, instead they should work with integrity,” Hemed Suleiman Abdulla said.
The Second Vice President of Zanzibar, Hemed Suleiman Abdulla then recently made a surprise visit to the ZECO Gulioni Headquarters where he was expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of the company.
During his visit, the Second Vice President was clearly not satisfied with the conduct of the failures and improper action.
Talking about the issue of electricity connection to the people, the Second Vice President said there are more than 3000 people waiting to be connected to electricity.
He gave one month for the citizens to be connected to the service.
He said that the issue of delay in connecting the citizens to electricity clearly shows the existence of loopholes of corruption for executives and explained that the Government will not tolerate any executive who tries to engage in any kind of corruption.
With that Hon. Hemed has expressed his dissatisfaction with financial issues, especially the collection of fees and asked them to close the loopholes in order to control the collection of fees and increase the national income.
The Second Vice President of Zanzibar has advised the Management of the Zanzibar Electricity Corporation to prepare a good Payment System, a system that will lead to transparency and good debt collection.
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Dar es Salaam — Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has declared an outbreak of Marburg virus, confirming a single case in the northwestern region of Kagera after a meeting with WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The confirmation follows days of speculation about a possible outbreak in the region, after the WHO reported a number of deaths suspected to be linked to the highly infectious disease.
While Tanzania’s Ministry of Health declared last week that all suspected cases had tested negative for Marburg, the WHO called for additional testing at international reference laboratories.
“We never know when an outbreak might occur in a neighbouring nation. So we ensure infection prevention control assessments at every point of care as routine as a morning greeting at our workplaces.”Amelia Clemence, public health researcher
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Health authorities stepped up surveillance and deployed emergency response teams after the WHO raised the alarm about nine suspected cases in the region, including eight deaths.
The suspected cases displayed symptoms consistent with Marburg infection, including headache, high fever, diarrhoea, and haemorrhagic complications, according to the WHO’s alert to member countries on 14 January. The organisation noted a case fatality rate of 89 per cent among the suspected cases.
“We appreciate the swift attention accorded by the WHO,” Hassan said.
She said her administration immediately investigated the WHO’s alert.
“The government took several measures, including the investigation of suspected individuals and the deployment of emergency response teams,” she added.
Cross-border transmission
The emergence of this case in a region that experienced Tanzania’s first-ever Marburg outbreak in March 2023 has raised concerns about cross-border transmission, particularly following Rwanda’s recent outbreak that infected 66 people and killed 15 before being declared over in December 2024.
The situation is particularly critical given Kagera’s position as a transport hub connecting four East African nations.
Amelia Clemence, a public health researcher working in the region, says constant vigilance is required.
“We never know when an outbreak might occur in a neighbouring nation. So we ensure infection prevention control assessments at every point of care as routine as a morning greeting at our workplaces.”
The Kagera region’s ecosystem, home to fruit bats that serve as natural reservoirs for the Marburg virus, adds another layer of complexity to disease surveillance efforts.
The virus, closely related to Ebola, spreads through contact with bodily fluids and can cause severe haemorrhagic fever.
Transparency urged
Elizabeth Sanga, shadow minister of health for Tanzania’s ACT Wazalendo opposition party, says greater transparency would help guide public health measures.
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“This could have helped to guide those who are traveling to the affected region to be more vigilant and prevent the risk of further spread,” she said.
WHO regional director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti says early notification of investigation outcomes is important.
“We stand ready to support the government in its efforts to investigate and ensure that measures are in place for an effective and rapid response,” she said, noting that existing national capacities built from previous health emergencies could be quickly mobilised.
The situation coincides with leadership changes in Tanzania’s Ministry of Health, with both the chief medical officer and permanent secretary being replaced.
This piece was produced by SciDev.Net’s Sub-Saharan Africa English desk.
Source: allafrica.com
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