Flo's adventures: May 2008

I got this story from TheCitizen

No end to electricity crisis in Zanzibar No end to electricity crisis in Zanzibar

By Salma Said, Zanzibar, and Orton Kiishweko, Dar

Zanzibar was without electricity for the fifth consecutive day yesterday.A serious water crisis was looming after water pumps stalled and water vendors raised prices. Operations in some schools and hospitals that do not have generators were also disrupted.

President Amani Abeid Karume on Saturday toured the crippled power distribution facility in Fumba as government grappled with Zanzibar's worst power crisis for years.

President Karume assured the public that experts were expected in the country any time to install parts that were damaged at the station last Wednesday.

Zanzibar Electricity Company (Zeco) public relations manager Salum Abdallah told The citizen yesterday that they were waiting for experts, but denied reports the assistance was being sought from South Africa following fears that the arrival of technicians from Norway contracted for the job could be delayed.

The massive power failure which left Zanzibar without electricity originated on Tanzania Mainland where Dar es Salaam and several areas briefly suffered a blackout on Wednesday night.

Mr Abdallah said the problem began on Thursday night where transformers and other apparatus at Fumba blew up after power from the mainland was restored.

"When electricity from the mainland was reinstated, the main power receptors at Fumba were overloaded and some equipment that require experts to repair burst into flames," he said.

Zeco general manager Mr Hassan Ali said on Saturday that he was optimistic they would solve the problem "as soon as possible".

However, other sources within the company said it was not known when the Norwegian export would arrive and how long it would take to fix the problem.

Technicians from Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) travelled to Zanzibar at the weekend, but were told not to touch anything at Fumba, pending the arrival of the Norwegian experts. The Citizen learnt that the engineers have since returned to Dar es Salaam.

The blackout has badly affected the operations of businesses and various important institutions.

Pumps at Sateni water plant fell silent, causing shortages in various parts of Unguja. Hundreds of people were seen at the site colleting water in containers.

A 20-litre container of water was selling for between Sh700 to Sh1,000, up from between Sh300 and Sh500 before the blackout.

There were fears that communicable diseases could break out at Michenzani Flats, whose occupants depend on piped water, and which lack pit latrines.

Unguja residents who spoke to The Citizen said that they were disappointed and felt that the government had taken too long to act following the breakdown at Fumba.

Businesses, including tourist hotels, were also badly affected, with many reporting big losses since power went off five days ago.

People were seen flocking to the few premises that had generators to charge their mobile phones. However, those running generators said it was just a matter of days before the high cost of operating the machines forced them to switch them off altogether.

People living in some areas have had to contend with noise and fumes from generators providing power to shops and offices.

Crime has also reportedly increased during the blackout as it has become easier for muggers to pounce on unsuspecting people under the cover of darkness.

Also hard-hit by the power crisis is Mnazi Mmoja Hospital, where available generators cannot provide the hospital with all the electricity it needs.

Patients who spoke to The Ctizen said they were inconvenienced by stifling heat in the wards.

Like Mnazi Mmoja Hospital, the generators at Ugunja airport have been on and off with the air conditioners off.

Incidentally, this may affect central offices and emergency, safety and fire systems in Zanzibar if the situation is not solved urgently.

Since last year, Zanzibar has been laying a submarine cable to provide electricity from mainland Tanzania to Pemba with the financing support from the government of Norway.

Zanzibar stopped using power from diesel generators when the island was hooked up to the national grid in 1980.