Geita Regional Roads Board: Tanzania Streetlight Outages Blamed on Unclear Maintenance Responsibilities

• The Geita Regional Roads Board has urged authorities to resolve persistent streetlight outages across the region.
• More than 300 streetlights in Chato town are non-functional despite being installed along roads.
• Unclear maintenance responsibilities between authorities have contributed to the problem, with TANROADS and councils at odds over who is responsible for maintenance.

The situation is particularly dire in Chato town, where more than 300 streetlights are non-functional despite being installed along roads.

The Geita Regional Roads Board has sounded an alarm about persistent streetlight outages across the region, citing risks to residents and property at night. According to Geita Regional Police Commander Safia Jongo, many streetlights are not functioning, making it difficult to identify town centres after dark. The situation is particularly dire in Chato town, where more than 300 streetlights are non-functional despite being installed along roads. This has led to calls for investigations and a lasting solution to the problem, which is partly caused by unclear maintenance responsibilities between authorities.

The issue of streetlight maintenance responsibilities is complex, with multiple institutions involved. The Tanzania Rural and Urban Roads Agency (TARURA) has engaged the Tanzania Electrical, Mechanical and Electronics Services Agency (TEMESA) to inspect and repair 310 faulty streetlights in Geita District. However, TEMESA's role is limited to inspection and repair, while responsibility for maintenance lies elsewhere. This has led to confusion among authorities, with TANROADS claiming installation as its role, while councils argue they were not part of the contract.

The ongoing efforts to integrate street lighting into road construction projects in Geita may have significant implications for project timelines and budgets. Lawyers advising clients on such projects should note that the inclusion of streetlights is crucial, especially when roads are upgraded to tarmac. As Commander Jongo stressed, paved roads contribute to the expansion of towns and increase human activity, making street lighting a vital component of road construction projects.

Lawyers advising clients on road construction projects in Geita, Tanzania should note the ongoing efforts to integrate street lighting into these projects, which may impact project timelines and budgets.

Source: Original reporting via Daily News