The government's plan to invest Sh15 billion in a project to supply the southern regions of Lindi and Mtwara with reliable electricity should be immediately followed up with action.

Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda is promising that the project will reduce the cost of power for consumers. The local residents are excited to hear that by May or June, their worries over electricity will have been eased.

Lindi and Mtwara have been crying out for electricity for a long time, with the locals calling on the government to connect them to the national grid. They have had enough of the unreliable power generated from diesel.

In 1986, the generators at Masasi were capable of producing 4.5MW of power. Today, one machine is out of order and the remaining generators produce only 2.8MW.

The people of Lindi and Mtwara have been treated like second-class citizens for too long. However, we hope Premier Pinda's visit will be the beginning of the end of their power woes.

The region has a lot of economic potential to be tapped from tourism, agriculture and the harbour, but without reliable power supply this is not possible. We hope the government will fulfil its pledge to bring the south on a par with the rest of the country.