Tanzania’s power company exposes Wema for this amount of electricity theft

Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (TANESCO) has exposed one Wema Sepetu for defaulting power payment.

According to Tanzania’s Bongo 5, the power company recently conducted an impromptu power unit check on homesteads in the country; and identified nonpayers.

TANESCO identified one Wema Sepetu as a defaulter who owes the firm TSZ 8,200,496.20 (Ksh394,044).

According to Bongo 5, the said Wema Sepetu is the country’s renowned actress and model who many people in the country and the larger East African region identify with.

“Hivi karibuni (TANESCO) walifanya ziara ya kushtukiza kwenye nyumba yake na kubaini kuwa muigizaji huyo anatumia umeme wao bure (TANESCO recently conducted an impromptu power unit check on Wema’s house and realised the actress has been using their electricity services without paying!), reads a paragraph on the website.

The Managing Director of TANESCO Eng. Felichesmi Mramba on Friday, December 18 addressed Tanzania’s press and announced the total amount the company aims to recover from defaulters; inclusive of fines charged.

“(Defaulters) will be arrested, publicly shamed and presented before authorities. We will do that without observing one’s popularity, or position in the society,” reads part of TANESCO’s statement obtained by Bongo 5.

“This exercise continues and we will proceed with arresting, shaming and presenting before authorities the power payment defaulters,” added the statement.

The power company attributes loss in returns to corrupt employees who liaise with defaulters to steal electricity through faulty electrical meters.

The statement says a total amount of TZS 100,248,386.42 (Ksh4.82 million) which the company had lost due to evasion of power payment by customers has been reclaimed, and states tougher measures will be put in place to curb such scrupulous practices.

Besides Wema Sepetu, other institutions and customers who have been put on notice for power defaulting include: Jangwani Secondary, Mbezi Beach’s Havan Hotel, LEADCOM among others.

Actress Wema Sepetu is yet to respond to the report.