Habsade to Roughshod Electricity Provision
By: Yusuf M Hasan
HARGEISA (Somalilandsun) – The national electricity agencies are from henceforth under the ministry of public works.
The president of Somaliland H.E Ahmed Mahmoud Silanyo has placed the national electricity agencies under the ministry of public works and housing management.
In a presidential decree # SL/M/XERM/249-1336/092012, President Silanyo placed the Hargeisa and Berbera national electricity agencies under minister Habsade as from the 26th Sept 2012 thus effectively removing the hitherto carte blanche managerial authority of the two agencies managers.
Since the country regained its sovereignty in 1991, the national electricity agencies owned by the government have been operating as parastatal, which means they report directly to the presidency rather than a line ministry.
The lighting sector in the country is controlled by a multitude of private electricity distributors who operate their domains in a mafia like style that includes charging exorbitant fees i.e. $1 per unit as well as defending their turfs against other service providers.
On the other hand, the national electricity agencies that sprawl every major city in the country are highly in demand due to their low cost of half a dollar per unit as well as less naggings in payments.
With the transfer of electricity, provision and control to Minister Ahmed Habsade who has the public works and housing docket Somalilanders are in for a new conducive lighting at home and work.
And maybe just maybe Hon Habsade will finally bridle the mafia like privateers who have been swindling citizens for long
