By Alfred Zacharia
The Tanzanian government has achieved full transition to clean energy in all prisons across the country.
Minister for Home Affairs, Innocent Bashungwa, made the announcement today, May 26, 2025, during his presentation of the Ministry’s 2025/26 budget in Dodoma.
This move is part of the national environmental protection campaign. It aims to reduce dependence on charcoal and firewood, and instead promote sustainable cooking energy in public institutions.
According to Minister Bashungwa, all 129 prisons in Tanzania are now using clean energy for cooking food for inmates and detainees.
This marks a key milestone in the government’s clean energy agenda. It also supports broader global efforts to combat climate change and protect forest resources.
“The government’s goal to roll out clean energy in all prisons has been fulfilled,” the minister told Parliament.
The clean energy shift is not just about the environment. It also improves working conditions for prison staff and promotes healthier living spaces for inmates.
By avoiding harmful smoke from traditional fuels, health risks such as respiratory infections can be reduced.
This progress comes amid a broader expansion in the Ministry’s budget.
The Home Affairs budget has more than doubled in just four years, from TZS 939.08 billion in 2021/22 to TZS 2.06 trillion for the 2025/26 financial year.
This 120 percent increase shows how the government is investing in better infrastructure, services, and technologies within the internal security sector.
One of the key reforms includes the introduction of an online court system in prisons. Minister Bashungwa revealed that 66 prisons have already adopted the system.
It allows for faster hearings without the need to transport inmates to court, reducing costs and speeding up justice delivery.
The government plans to roll out this system to all remaining prisons by the 2028/29 fiscal year.
The minister also outlined new investments in the Fire and Rescue Force. He said the ministry has spent USD 100 million on equipment to improve disaster response and fire control.
This includes 40 ambulances, 30 command and communication vehicles, and six mobile workshops for repairing machinery and vehicles.
These changes show that the government is not only focusing on security, but also on modernization, efficiency, and sustainability.
By investing in clean energy and digital systems, Tanzania is aligning its internal operations with long-term national development goals.
Analysts say these efforts are in line with Tanzania’s environmental and justice sector reforms. They also support the country’s Vision 2025 goals and its commitment to the African Union’s Agenda 2063 for sustainable development.
In short, the full adoption of clean energy in prisons is more than just a technological upgrade. It is a symbol of how the country is moving toward a safer, greener, and more just society.
