Deputy PM Biteko overcome with emotion as he pays tribute to late Tanesco MD

Mr Biteko struggled to contain his grief, pausing several times while delivering his remarks.

“Gissima was a man of great humility. He would always approach me respectfully, even though he was older and more experienced,” he said, his voice faltering.

Mr Nyamo-Hanga and his driver, Muhajiri Haule, lost their lives in a tragic road accident on 13 April 2025 at Nyatwali in Bunda District while travelling from Mwanza to Bunda.

The Deputy Prime Minister described the late Tanesco chief as a diligent and principled leader who had played a pivotal role in reviving the utility’s performance.

“He bore the burden of his team’s shortcomings without complaint, and always insisted on fairness and transparency. Even when disciplining, he took time to explain why, making people understand and accept the process,” Mr Biteko said.

He recalled that upon Nyamo-Hanga’s appointment, President Samia Suluhu Hassan had described him as a results-driven, knowledgeable, and action-oriented individual—an assessment he came to endorse after working alongside him.

Among the key achievements highlighted was the initiation of talks with Zambia aimed at facilitating future power exports—an initiative viewed as a major milestone for the national utility.

Tanesco Board Chairperson, Mr Rhimo Nyansaho, revealed that Nyamo-Hanga had been on his way to Butiama to address electricity challenges at the model Amali School.

The visit followed the conclusion of a board committee meeting focused on enhancing staff welfare.

“He told me he would head straight to Butiama and later visit his farm here in Mara, where he had planned to retire,” Mr Nyansaho recounted.

He paid tribute to Nyamo-Hanga’s humility and steadfast professionalism, noting that his contributions extended beyond Tanesco to his earlier work with the Rural Energy Agency (REA).

Mara Regional Commissioner, Mr Evans Mtambi, said the late md was always swift in responding to electricity-related challenges, including those affecting schools and areas hit by recent storms in Musoma.

Delivering the eulogy, Ms Irene Kowelo spoke of Nyamo-Hanga’s enduring legacy in reforming the energy sector, fostering international cooperation, and upholding ethical leadership.

Evangelical Lutheran Bishop, John Maguge, urged the bereaved family to remain united during this difficult time, warning that grief often provides an opening for division.

Musoma Rural MP, Prof Sospeter Muhongo, said Nyamo-Hanga played a critical role in reducing power connection costs and shaping policies that garnered international recognition, including the landmark Power Africa visit by former US President Barack Obama.