Tanesco eyes enhanced transparency

AS part of efforts to enhance transparency, Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) is next week slated to shift to the Government e-Payment Gateway (GePG) for payments and electronic purchase of electricity for customers using the pre-paid electric metres, commonly known as’ Luku’.

Even with the shift, power consumers using Luku will continue purchasing electricity from Tanesco offices, Luku kiosks, mobile phone operators, financial institutions and other approved agents, the company explained in a press statement issued yesterday.

“Customers should not panic as they will continue purchasingelectricity through the channels they have been using before; the shift to GePG is to enhance transparency. The shift will be done on April 2, this year,” the power utility publicist, Ms Leila Muhaji, explained to this paper in a telephone interview.

Asked on whether the move was likely to cause disruptions in the system, Ms Muhaji allayed such fears, maintaining that the company was well prepared to move to GePG without a glitch. The current system being used by Tanesco will cease to operate come April 1, this year, Ms Muhaji explained during the telephone interview.

Tanesco becomes the latest parastatal to join the electronic system which was devised by the government to check tax leakages, enhance transparency and monitoring of payment in addition to reducing operation costs.

Amendments were made to the Finance Act in July, last year, by the Minister for Finance and Planning, Dr Philip Mpango, where a provision was made for public institutions to use the new system, which has been touted for transparency.

Public institutions which have since then joined the arrangement include the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA), Ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development and Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA).