THE A,B,C OF POWER CRISIS IN AFRICA.

The seeming chronic power crisis in Africa has always been said to have been caused by lack of technical know-how, some believe is as a result of limited resources, others think is because of changes in seasons of the year ( e.g, countries that still relies on hydroelectricity). Most of these are propagated by the political class and party in power at various times for selfish reasons. One cannot completely deny that these could be a factor, but a deeper look into it, will reveal that they are only but a tip of  the iceberg.

Here is the true picture:

(a) Public institution owing utility companies

TANZANIA:

The Tanzania Electricity Supply Company Limited (TANESCO) has as at February 2015 started the installation of smart meters for public institutions and private companies, the firm's boss in an interview stated that most of the public institutions and private companies have not been paying their utility bills. " Public institution and private companies have mostly been a headache for utility firms for persistently failing to pay up their electricity bills on time". One may say "on time" could mean a week or two months late, as bad as that may seem, it is however important to note that sometimes it takes as long as years. He names the police force and Dar es Salam Water Company (DAWASCO), among others.

 GHANA:

 The electricity Company of Ghana ( ECG) had in November, 2014 accused the country's parliament of owing a whopping sum of GHc 1m , One Million Ghana Cedis Only, approximately $260,000.00. A claim that was latter clarified by the parliament as not being the sole debtor, the parliament explained that the said amount was a collective debt owed by the parliament and other public offices with offices also located in the enclave of the state house and the said amount was an accumulated bill for 2013 - 2014.

(b) Political Sabotage

Sabotage is a deliberate action or inaction aimed at weakening a polity or corporation through subversion, obstruction, disruption, or destruction. It could also mean a conscious withdrawal of efficiency. This is often carried out by mercenaries of opposition parties who wants to score the ruling party bellow average for political gains, or individuals sympathetic to an opposition party or even ambitious members of a party in power who want a change in leadership.

(c) Corruption 

sometimes an "artificial" power shortage is created by politicians for personal gains. When an impression of power shortage is created,  contracts are awarded to companies linked to top politicians and or party faithfuls, and the leadership cannot intervene either because it has been compromised or because of fear of the wrath of the fingers that fed them. who might have been beneficiaries of the deal. Examples will be cited in my subsequent post.