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By Charles Mkoka
The Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) on Tuesday ramped up its campaign for clean cooking energy by handing over a modern, energy-efficient electric stove to Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner, Mr. Albert Chalamila, urging local leaders to lead by example in adopting clean energy solutions.
TANESCO’s Director General, Mr. Jacob Twange, presented the stove during a working session with local government chairpersons from Kinondoni and Ubungo municipalities, held at Ubungo Plaza on June 24, 2025.
The move reflects TANESCO’s growing effort to support President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s clean energy agenda and reduce the country’s reliance on firewood and charcoal.
“We want Tanzanians to embrace clean cooking energy not just as an environmental choice, but as a lifestyle that simplifies everyday living,” said Mr. Twange. “By promoting electric cooking, we help reduce deforestation, protect public health, and support sustainable development.”
Mr. Twange emphasized the efficiency of the donated stove, noting that it uses less than one unit of electricity. He called on the Regional Commissioner to serve as a goodwill ambassador for clean energy in the country’s most populous region.
“TANESCO is not only delivering power but also solutions that improve lives. We urge all leaders to set the pace in energy transformation,” he added.
The company also distributed electric stoves to selected stakeholders, including the chairperson of all local government chairpersons.
Mr. Twange said the gesture marked the beginning of a broader collaboration with local authorities to raise awareness and encourage clean energy adoption at the community level.
Responding to the donation, Mr. Chalamila acknowledged TANESCO’s efforts and shifted focus to an equally pressing issue, security.
He challenged local leaders to prioritize peace and stability as essential ingredients for development.
“I have visited many wards and noticed that some leaders spend more time on business matters than on ensuring community safety,” said Chalamila. “This must change. You are the frontline defenders of peace.”
He warned that a single act of negligence could lead to serious consequences, including loss of life. He urged the chairpersons to act swiftly in resolving local disputes and preventing violence.
“We cannot wait until it is too late. Security is not an abstract concept—it begins at the grassroots,” he said.
Chalamila also dismissed what he described as politically motivated misinformation on social media about electricity issues, calling on leaders to counter false narratives with facts.
“Electricity use fluctuates with time, activity, and environment. Don’t let rumors create fear among citizens. Today, people know TANESCO is delivering and transforming,” he said.
He praised the government’s massive infrastructure investments and pointed to Dar es Salaam’s high power demand as proof of the city’s central role in economic growth. He called on local leaders to protect energy infrastructure and crack down on vandalism and theft.
“Anyone damaging electricity infrastructure sabotages national development. We must act firmly and hold them accountable,” Chalamila stressed.
The session ended with a renewed commitment from the local leaders to support TANESCO’s mission, promote clean energy, and strengthen security as Tanzania pushes forward with its development vision.
