By Victoria Godfrey
The Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA) is urging Tanzanians to adopt the practice of hiring licensed electricians for home wiring, with licenses issued by the authority.
This message was conveyed on December 13, 2024, by EWURA's Communications Manager, Titus Kaguo, during a training session on energy and water services regulation for the Tanzania Journalists' Workers Union (JOWUTA) in Dar es Salaam.
Kaguo highlighted that the goal is to reduce the risks and incidents, such as fires, caused by unlicensed electricians.
"Over the past three years, we have issued 8,000 licenses, and we continue to raise awareness on this matter," he stated.
Engineer Mwanamkuu Kanizio, the Acting Manager of EWURA's Eastern Region, added that they have been conducting educational sessions across the regions, one after the other, to address this issue.
He also noted that seminars are being held for university students to increase awareness and build capacity to reach a larger audience.
"While rogue electricians exist, we are working to regulate them, and we require individuals to show us the work they have done," he explained.
Kanizio further emphasized that EWURA is responsible for issuing licenses to electricians who do home wiring.
Anyone working without the necessary approval from the authority is committing an offense, which could result in legal penalties, including imprisonment, fines, or both.
Meanwhile, JOWUTA Secretary-General Suleiman Msuya urged journalists to serve as effective ambassadors, sharing the authority's messages with the public to achieve positive outcomes.