President Samia Suluhu Hassan has earned praise for her hands-on implementation of Tanzania’s National Clean Cooking Energy Strategy, a move aimed at improving public health, protecting the environment, and transitioning the country away from traditional biomass fuels.
Speaking in Simiyu on July 1, 2025, during the official distribution of gas cylinders and cooking stoves to correctional officers, Lucas Malunde, a Member of the Rural Energy Board (REB), commended the Head of State for translating policy into tangible change.
Malunde represented the Board’s Chairperson, Ambassador (Ret.) Major General Jacob Kingu at the event.
"Since President Samia launched the National Strategy on Clean Cooking Energy on May 8, 2024, the government has taken deliberate steps to ensure Tanzanians adopt clean and safe energy for cooking," said Malunde.
"Today’s distribution of cooking gas and stoves to correctional officers is a direct result of those efforts. It reflects the President’s commitment to saving lives, protecting forests, and ensuring clean energy access reaches all corners of society."
Under this phase, a total of 330 units each comprising a 15-kilogram gas cylinder and a double-burner gas stove will be distributed free of charge to staff at Simiyu Regional Prisons, as part of the broader national rollout targeting government institutions.
Engineer Emmanuel Yesaya, Acting Technical Support Manager for Project Investors at the Rural Energy Agency (REA), said the support forms part of REA’s implementation of the strategy, with an emphasis on reducing dependency on firewood in public institutions.
“The aim is to create a cleaner and healthier cooking environment while relieving pressure on forest resources. This is in line with national energy goals and global climate commitments,” said Eng. Yesaya.
Simiyu Regional Prisons Commander, SACP Lugano Msomba, welcomed the initiative, describing it as a milestone in improving staff welfare.
He assured the government that the recipients would act as ambassadors of clean energy in their communities.
“We are grateful to the government and REA for empowering our officers with this support. It not only enhances their well-being but also gives us a chance to lead by example in adopting clean energy solutions,” he said.
The National Clean Cooking Energy Strategy targets reducing the country's reliance on charcoal and firewood used by over 60 percent of Tanzanian households and aims to ensure that at least 80 percent of the population has access to clean cooking solutions by 2034.