TPDF pays Sh1bn to avoid disconnection

Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) said yesterday it would today pay Sh1billion to reduce its debt amounting to Sh3 billion it owes Tanesco to avoid power disconnection.

This follows a directive by President John Magufuli that the power utility company should disconnect all who have failed to settle their power bills.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, the Chief of Defence Forces, General Venance Mabeyo, said the money would be duly deposited in Tanesco’s bank accounts today.

He attributed the accumulation of the debt to high electricity consumption by TPDF’s countrywide presence, machinery, and heavy equipment that the force uses.

“Due to the advancement in defence and security operations, we need to use modern equipment, some of which require 24-hour electricity consumption; that’s why our debt has over-accumulated,” said Gen Mabeyo.

The general, who was appointed CDF on February 2, said besides the Tanesco debt, the TPDF owes various suppliers who have been providing services to the force.

However, the army chief expressed his confidence that service providers won’t jeorpadise country’s security by suspending service to the TPDF due to the debts.

“We need to remind service providers that ensuring national security is not an option. Now suspending any service to the army on account of its debts would adversely affect national security…that’s why we’re requesting that those providing services to us must be conscious of the national security needs and should be understanding and keep on providing us services,” said Gen Mabeyo.

Meanwhile, the military boss said the TPDF is currently setting up various strategies through Nyumbu Corporation, Suma JKT and Mzinga, to establish wealth creating projects including formation industries to make products to be used by both the TPDF and members of the public at large so as to avoid over-dependence on the government.

He explained that industrialising the military would go a long way in forestalling indebtedness that the TPDF has had to contend with frequently. It would boost national economy too, he said, adding that the force has prepared a circular for discussion by the Cabinet on how Nyumbu Corporation could be developed.

On March 9, this year, acting Tanesco Managing Director Tito Mwinuka gave a 14-day ultimatum to all defaulters to settle their bills. According to him, money owed to the power utility amounts to a whopping Sh275 billion.

The Zanzibar government, which owes Tanesco Sh121 billion, has already paid Sh10 billion since the ultimatum was issued.

President Magufuli’s directive to the Tanesco to disconnect power to all defaulters, including Zanzibar, over a Sh127 billion debt, sparked fierce debate on the status of the Isles in the Union.

Speaking during his tour of Mtwara Region earlier this month, Dr Magufuli said on Sunday the Zanzibar power bill had to be settled or power be disconnected as it would be the case with any other chronic defaulter.

But in an apparent rejoinder, Zanzibar President Ali Mohammed Shein told reporters in the Isles that he did not believe that the government could indeed issue such a threat.

Dr Shein was out of the country when the “disconnect-all-defaulters” directive was issued.

Subsequently, the state power utility gave all chronic defaulters, including Zanzibar, a two-week grace period.