From DOWANS to SYMBION: A baptismal miracle?

Power Politics in Tanzania

Who said names were nothing? Who said good names and bad names were equally “good”? Next time you are choosing a name for your child — be careful.

In the recent past the media in Tanzania has had a good deal of coverage on two power companies RICHMOND and his daughter, DOWANS. Every bad word you can name was given to these two electricity firms — illegal, conman hand, corrupt, thieves, embezzlers, money (tax payer’s) launders et cetera, et cetera.

Then comes in this (American-based?) giant — SYMBION. He buys the same power facility (plant) and he names it after himself — SYMBION! Now DOWANS and her dad, RICHMOND are no longer illegal, corrupt, embezzlers. They are the good guys “white as snow”! What has changed? Nomenclature. DOWANS is now a new creature — no longer a beast we used to know and dread.

And by the way, thank you Mrs. Clinton for endorsing this once-bad-now-good “guy”. And thank you for promising us that come 2015, power rationing (shedding) will be history. Ah!

COP15 — Tanzania

A message from Tanzania to COP15

As you convene in Copenhagen from today on, I pray that you hear the outcry from the South. We people in the South (developing world) have our concerns to present to you. We know we have sent our delegates to come there but we doubt if they will be able to adequately represent us. As I write this, I am worried I might not be able to finish it. I am working on my laptop running on battery — there is no power. Electricity was cut about an hour ago due to power rationing/shedding. I am not sure if some of you even know what I am talking about when I say power rationing or power shedding. It simply means WE GET ELECTRICITY NOT AS WE WANT, ANY TIME WE WANT, BUT ONLY FOR SOME HOURS OF THE DAY. We really want to save the environment but we also want to live and not just to survive. We cut down trees and fell our forests not because we want to but because we do not have alternative. Biomass is our electricity. Biomass is our light. Biomass is our energy. As you sit to discuss about saving the planet, remember also to discuss about saving lives. Thank you.