The government has suspended the Chief Executive Officer of the Tanzania Electrical, Mechanical and Electronics Services Agency (TEMESA) to pave the way for investigations into allegations of negligence, weak management, and misuse of public resources.
Minister for Works Abdallah Ulega announced the suspension in Dar es Salaam yesterday, noting that the action follows growing public complaints about the agency’s performance and preliminary findings from a government investigation team.
According to the Minister, the ministry received a letter from concerned citizens highlighting poor management at TEMESA.
The correspondence was forwarded to President Samia Suluhu Hassan before being delivered to the ministry for action.
“After receiving the letter, we initiated an assessment that confirmed serious negligence,” Mr Ulega said. “We have therefore suspended all TEMESA officials who failed to match the government’s pace of service delivery.”
Mr Ulega further revealed that an internal inquiry uncovered suspected financial irregularities involving roughly TZS2.5 billion. A seven-day special committee has been formed to investigate the matter in detail.
“Anyone found responsible will be taken directly to court,” he stressed.
He said the ministry will now proceed with internal interviews and reviews, and if criminal elements are confirmed, the suspects will be handled by law-enforcement agencies.
Mr Ulega made the remarks while inspecting the construction of the Nyinyi–Nyamisati passenger vessel, which will serve the Mafia Island–Nyamisati route.
He expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of work, saying the project remains at 57 percent completion behind the scheduled timeline.
“The project was expected to be completed by December 31, 2025, but engineers here tell me it may slip to May 2026. This delay is unacceptable,” he said.
The vessel is designed to carry 300 passengers, 120 tonnes of cargo and also includes a special compartment for transporting bodies.
The Minister, who toured the project site at Mji Mwema in Kigamboni, urged contractors and engineers to accelerate progress, saying residents of Mafia and Nyamisati depend heavily on the service.
He also directed ministry officials to engage the Prime Minister’s Office to address ferry congestion at Darajani and persistent traffic along Mandela Road, describing the situation as a long-standing inconvenience to the public.
During the same visit, Mr Ulega inspected the construction of the Nguva Bridge in Kibaoni, Muongozo, and ordered that the project be completed by January.
He encouraged technicians to document their work and share it online to motivate young people to appreciate the value of government-led infrastructure projects.
Acting TEMESA CEO Moses Rajabu said the Mafia–Nyamisati vessel project is valued at Sh9.4 billion, with Sh4.3 billion released to date.
Kigamboni MP Sanga Nyakisa urged the ministry to fast-track solutions to longstanding ferry challenges in the district.
“While we appreciate the government’s efforts, Kigamboni needs urgent reforms. Either privatise some ferry services or expedite payments for MV Kigamboni and Kivukoni, and complete repairs on MV Kazi, which operates round the clock,” he said.
