Tanzanian power firm suspends top officials

TANZANIA’S state-run power company has suspended its managing director and three other senior managers over allegations of embezzlement and abuse of office.

The Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) board said at the weekend that managing director William Mhando had been suspended along with his deputy, Robert Shemhilu, chief financial officer Lusekelo Kassanga and senior procurement manager Harun Mattambo.

“Tanesco’s board of directors has been forced to suspend the managing director… to pave way for an investigation,” chairman Robert Mboma said late on Saturday. “The board has taken the necessary steps to ensure Tanesco’s operations are not affected by this move.”

None of those named were available for comment.

For years, the east African nation has suffered from frequent power blackouts that have sometimes hit economic growth as firms shut down production lines during outages.

A report from the government’s chief auditor in April exposed mismanagement and misuse of funds at Tanesco and other state-run agencies.

President Jakaya Kikwete sacked six cabinet ministers in May, including the energy and minerals minister, over corruption charges in their ministries.

Kikwete had pledged to follow up the ministerial sackings with disciplinary action against heads of state-run institutions implicated in graft allegations.