Power comes to the Spice Islands again

 Power was restored in Zanzibar on Monday evening but could not reach a number suburbs because vandals had stolen electricity wires during the three-month power outage.

It started to flow at around 5.15 p.m. after technicians finished repairs at the Fumba power station in Zanzibar island. Zanzibar Electricity Company (Zeco) acting manager Ali Hassan Mbarouk urged people from areas which have not yet received power to notify his office for necessary repairs.

Vandalism of electricity wires was common during the three months when Zanzibar experienced a total blackout.

“Although we have managed to restore power there are areas which will continue to experience power outages due to the theft of electricity wires connecting them,” he said. He explained that technicians would make repairs immediately after being notified.

Some areas where power was not restored include

Stone

Town, Bububu, Kiembe Samaki, Mbweni and Mazizini in North Unguja Region.According to technicians who rehabilitated the Fumba station, billions of shillings has been spent to purchase new spare parts and hire foreign experts to fix the problem.Power was disconnected on December 10 last year following defects at the Fumba power station which receives it from Tanzania Mainland through a submarine cable.

It was the second time that

Zanzibar had experienced a total blackout due to defects at the station. In 2008 the island missed power for almost a month after an electricity receiving part at the station was blown off. 

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