By Alfred Zacharia
The Government of Lesotho has expressed strong interest in adopting Tanzania’s model for expanding access to clean and affordable energy in rural areas, following the remarkable progress made by the Rural Energy Agency (REA).
This was revealed on May 27, 2025, in Dar es Salaam by Lesotho’s Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Energy, Mr. Tankiso Phapano, who led a delegation of energy sector experts on a learning visit to Tanzania.
“We have been closely monitoring Tanzania’s progress in rural energy. It is among the few African countries that have made tremendous strides, and we are here to exchange experiences and learn the key drivers behind this success,” Mr. Phapano said.
He applauded the leadership of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, particularly her commitment to promoting the use of clean cooking energy among Tanzanians.
He noted that this initiative plays a critical role in safeguarding public health and protecting the environment.
Sharing insights on the situation in Lesotho, Mr. Leloko Mokhutsoane, Manager of the Rural Electrification Unit (REU), said that rural electrification is currently handled as a unit under the Lesotho Electricity Company (LEC).
However, he admitted that the unit's performance has not met national needs, especially when it comes to delivering clean cooking energy in rural areas.
“This is just a unit focused solely on electricity. It does not address broader energy needs. We now intend to establish a standalone Rural Energy Agency, similar to Tanzania’s REA, to broaden our focus and include clean cooking solutions,” Mr. Mokhutsoane explained.
In response, Tanzania’s Director of Rural Electrification, Eng. Jones Olotu, speaking on behalf of REA Director General Eng. Hassan Saidy, shared the agency’s background, milestones, and current initiatives with the visiting delegation.
“REA Tanzania was officially established in 2007. At the time, only 506 out of 12,318 villages had access to electricity,” Eng. Olotu said.
He further noted that Tanzania Mainland has 64,359 hamlets, of which 33,657, representing 52.3 percent have already been connected to electricity.
He said implementation is ongoing for the remaining 30,702 hamlets, including 7,736 under active projects and 9,000 for which contractor procurement is expected to be finalized by June 2025.
“As of this year, all 12,318 villages in Tanzania have access to electricity. The focus now is on ensuring that every hamlet is connected,” he added.
The delegation from Lesotho also engaged in detailed discussions with REA experts, covering operational strategies, institutional frameworks, and ongoing rural electrification efforts. The visit concluded with optimism about strengthening bilateral cooperation and replicating Tanzania’s rural energy success in Lesotho.
