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Isles blackout still biting
2008-02-26 09:44:17
By Mwinyi Sadallah, Zanzibar
Zanzibar municipality continues to suffer the brunt of total blackout for the fourth consecutive day, as the Isles` electricity company and the government are working overnight to restore power.
Power went off on Saturday midnight and the Zanzibar Electricity Company (Zeco) is blaming a technical fault at its Unguja power stations on the power failure, which has paralysed businesses and horribly disrupted life at the household level.
A thorough survey carried out yesterday revealed that the isles` key commercial and administrative center, Stone Town, where big businesses and offices, including government offices are located, were the most hit.
Government ministries mostly hit by the blackout and whose workers ran away from hot temperatures in their offices include, Communications and Transport, Water, Works and Energy and Good Governance and Constitutional Affairs.
Others are Finance and Economy, Agriculture and Forestry and Regional Government and Security units of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar (SMZ).
``I cannot work in there. My computer is useless without power. And what is worse is that it`s too hot,`` said a worker in the Communications and Transport ministry.
The survey also discovered that most residents and foreign tourists visiting Zanzibar had also felt the brunt as internet services were not available since Friday night and were seen roaming around looking for the services to no avail.
Zeco General Manager, Juma Isihaq, said in an interview yesterday that the company`s technicians were working around the clock to fix the technical fault at Mlandege and Mpendae power stations.
Understandably, Zeco technicians were digging out underground cables laid at the two stations to identify the fault, Isihaq said: ``The work to dig out the cables is very tough.``
Stone Town and other areas of the municipality have been without electricity for four days running today.
Isles`` Water, Works, Energy and Lands minister Mansour Yusuf Himid said on Sunday: ``We appeal for patience, understanding and cooperation from the people, as the government and Zeco technicians continue to work on the fault so as to restore power soon.``
He said the exercise of ``digging deep down`` might take some time before solving the problem, due to poor working tools.
Areas hit by the blackout include Chukwani, Mbweni, Kiembesamaki, Mpendae, Jang`ombe, Kikwajuni and the Stone Town--Isles` commercial hub.
The minister explained that the problem had left water supply services hopelessly disjointed because the pumps used in distributing the precious liquid need electricity to operate.
Scores upon scores of residents of the municipality have been seen hunting for water from far-off locations. Some, particularly at Forodhani flats, have been buying a 20-litre bucket of the item at 1,000/-.
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