IPTL workers down tools over 3-month salary arrears

Dar es Salaam. Workers of Independent Power Tanzania Limited (IPTL) have missed their salaries for three consecutive months, while the tycoon who owns the energy company, Mr Harbinder Singh Sethi, alleged to pocket a hefty payment of Sh533 million a month, which amounts to Sh6.39 billion annually.

The disgruntled IPTL workers accused the tycoon of colluding with his relatives to swindle tax payers of their money, because for a long time IPTL had ceased to pay taxes amounting to billions of shillings.

In an interview yesterday, the aggrieved workers spoke bitterly about their ill fate while directing accusations to tycoon Sethi, whereby they accused him of continuing his vices while in remand prison.

The workers who volunteered to provide documents to The Citizen yesterday complained that while the new IPTL board of directors installed new management under new managing director Joseph Makandege, Mr Sethi was still using his colleagues and family members to control IPTL funds and influence company decisions.

The chairman of IPTL workers’ union, Mr Clemence Mtondoro, alleged that apart from the hefty salaries set for Mr Sethi there were workers of Asian origin who were also pocketing millions of shillings per month while indigenous workers missed out on their pay.

“It is a pity that we are protecting this industry from perishing by working hard without pay, while Sethi is still swindling money with his partners and relatives. We want this issue to reach our President (John Magufuli),” Mr Mtondoro said.

He clarified that the payroll whose copy he has furnished The Citizen, two Asian workers receive salaries amounting to Sh90 million per month, which is equivalent to the salaries of all IPTL workers.

“We want the government to intervene in this matter because there are dubious deals still going on in this company despite the arrest of Harbinder Sethi,” he said.