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Tanzanian president sacks power utility head over hiked tariffs

Xinhua, January 2, 2017 Adjust font size:

Tanzanian President John Magufuli on Sunday sacked the managing director of state-owned Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) over hiked power tariffs.

The sacking of Felchesmi Mramba came two days after the nation's energy regulator announced an energy tariff increase of over 8.5 percent.

Prior to the sacking, Magufuli told worshippers at a church in Kagera region that it was unacceptable for the power firm to increase tariffs while the country was yearning for an industrial economy.

"Our industrial drive will not succeed if we keep on increasing electricity tariffs," the president said.

Magufuli appointed Tito Mwinuka to replace Mramba , said a statement from the Directorate of Presidential Communication.

Last October, TANESCO submitted a request to increase power tariffs by 18.19 percent on the grounds that it would help finance its operational and capital investment program in order to meet the government's target to have at least 75 percent of the population connected to electricity by 2025. Endit