Written by Cde Shaka Hamdu.

Today is a historic day. A day that future generations will read about in books. A day when Tanzania has truly decided to be self-reliant.

Congratulations to Her Excellency the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, and her Government for the courage to decide and implement this massive project that required very difficult decisions to succeed. I also congratulate every Tanzanian who contributed their strength, sweat and intellect to make this project a success.

THE HISTORY OF THE DREAM – FROM NYERERE TO TODAY

To understand the magnitude of today, let us go back.

1967: The Arusha Declaration
The late Mwalimu Nyerere said: “Without industries, without electricity, without modern agriculture – our independence will have no meaning”. He foresaw the energy problem 60 years ago.

60 Years of Challenges
We tried small projects. We depended on rain. We depended on expensive fuel. The result was factories closing and youth missing jobs.

2021: Work Continues
When Her Excellency President Samia Suluhu Hassan came into office, her question was one:
“How do we solve the fundamental energy problem?”
The answer was: Let’s go to the source. Let’s go to our water. Let’s go for a mega project.

Today we are witnessing the trap of poverty being broken. This is the continuation of the vision of leadership under Dr. Samia – not a project of one person.

This Dam has the capacity to generate enough electricity to light the whole country twice over.
It has enough water storage to irrigate millions of hectares.
It has one mission: to provide affordable, reliable electricity for the next 100 years.

5 MAJOR BENEFITS TO THE NATIONAL ECONOMY
This is the new engine for the nation of Tanzania with major benefits including:

  1. Industrial Revolution – “Tanzania, Let Us Manufacture”
    Currently electricity cost is 40% of production cost. When it drops, a textile factory in Arusha will compete with one in China.
    Example: One medium factory creates 500 jobs. If we get 1,000 factories, we create 1/2 million jobs.
  2. Irrigation Agriculture and Food Security
    We have 44 million hectares of arable land. We have only been using 10 million hectares because of rain.
    Now with water + electricity, we will farm 3 times more.
    Result: We will stop importing sugar, cooking oil, rice and with certainty we will be able to export and the Nation will have food self-sufficiency.
  3. Mining and Value Addition
    Our minerals – gold, nickel, graphite – require a lot of electricity to smelt. Now we will smelt here in Tanzania, not abroad.
    Result: Instead of selling a ton of minerals for $2,000, we will sell a finished product for $50,000.
  4. Tourism and Night Economy
    Our cities will have lights 24 hours. Tourists will come, business people will have the courage to open their businesses.
    Whereby the economy will be 24 hours and the passion of youth to engage in the tourism sector will increase, making it a liberator in the job market in the country.
  5. Savings and Building
    We will save $400 million per year. That money builds 20 colleges, 50 hospitals, and 1,000km of roads every year.
    The Nation will move away from dependency on budget support aid – which is a great honor for our Tanzania in the eyes of the world.

BENEFITS TO THE ORDINARY PERSON
Development without touching households has no meaning and will be slow to be understood in the concept of positive development.

Market Mama: She will get a fridge. Her vegetables will no longer spoil due to unreliable power, and she will have the opportunity to sell at all times from morning to night.

Teacher: The school will have computers, internet, and projectors. A student in Mtwara will get the same lesson as one in DSM.

Doctor: A district hospital will perform surgery at night without fear of power cuts.

Youth: Will get jobs in construction, in factories, or will start their own business in solar installation and electricity.

Elder: Will receive their pension via mobile phone without going to the bank because networks will be stable.

COMPARISON WITH OTHER COUNTRIES
Countries like Ethiopia, Egypt and China grew economically after completing major electricity projects.
We are now entering the club of energy self-reliant nations.
This gives us international respect and attracts investors to love and invest in Tanzania.

OUR CALL AND RESPONSIBILITY
For us to succeed, each one has a responsibility as follows:

  1. Government Responsibility: Ensure electricity reaches all areas of the country at an affordable cost. Without corruption, because the era has already been changed by the Government of Dr. Samia and today Tanzanians are going to be free in accessing reliable energy.
  2. Private Sector and Citizens Responsibility: Come and invest. Start a small factory. Start a poultry business. Use this opportunity – this is a very important door for our investors to increase capital and also to do new innovative investments that will be more productive.
  3. Our Collective Responsibility: Let us protect this infrastructure. This is the wealth of our grandchildren. Let us not destroy it. Let each one fulfill their patriotism by protecting this project like the apple of our eye so that it remains safe for years to come.

It is an unparalleled great honor for our beloved President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan in her leadership and for Tanzanians as a whole who today are witnessing Nyerere’s dream coming true and President Samia’s promise fulfilled and succeeding by over 100% as today Tanzania has started a new journey through the courage and vision of Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan.

I conclude with the words of Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere: “The development of man is by man himself”. The Government has provided electricity. Now it is our turn to create our own development.