Nairobi, April 6 -- Recently, Tanzania suffered a massive power cut. This is notable for two reasons. Firstly, while it is customary for there to be rationing during the drier months of the year, the rationing ends soon after the first rains around the Easter season or earlier, as temperatures cool.

This year due to a heavy rationing load, we were even assured that one of the government's projects, that of generating power at the new Nyerere Dam, would reduce the power deficit in the country to negligible levels. Secondly, the power cut affected a significant part of the national grid- specifically the primate city of Dar es Salaam.

Dar is unlivable without electricity- during the day for work purposes and during the night as the blood ...