Residents of Ndecha hamlet in Nyasa District, Ruvuma Region have begun to experience renewed hope after the official launch of a Tzs4.17 billion rural electrification project implemented by the Rural Energy Agency, which is expected to transform livelihoods and boost economic activities in the area.
The project was launched on May 16, 2026 by the National Torch Race Leader, Wazo Michael Mwang’onda, during the Mwenge wa Uhuru visit in Nyasa District. He said the government remains committed to expanding access to reliable electricity in rural areas as a key driver of inclusive development.
He urged wananchi to take advantage of the project by paying only Tzs 27,000 for electricity connection, stressing that the subsidy is meant to ensure more citizens benefit from the national power grid.
“We want citizens to pay Sh27,000 for connections. Even if you sell a chicken for Tzs27,000, you can get electricity at home. It is no longer Sh300,000 as it used to be,” he said.
REA Ruvuma Regional Project Supervisor, Engineer Hamisi Mrope, said the Rural Electrification Distribution Project Phase 2C (REDP2C) aims to ensure that all hamlets in Nyasa are connected to electricity in order to improve social services and stimulate local economic growth.
He said the project started on November 16, 2023 and is expected to be completed by October 2026. It covers 30 hamlets, 30 distribution transformers, and 1,247 customers, with a total investment of more than Sh4.17 billion.
In Ndecha hamlet alone, the project has involved the construction of 8.43 kilometres of electricity distribution lines, installation of two transformers, and connection of 94 customers at a cost of over Tzs307.6 million.
He added that the infrastructure is now 100 percent complete, while 56 households have already been connected to electricity at the subsidized cost of Tzs27,000 per customer.
The project is being implemented by local contractor MF Electrical Engineering Ltd under the supervision of the Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited.
Nyasa Member of Parliament John Nchimbi said the ongoing REA projects have now enabled all 84 villages in Nyasa District to access electricity, noting that improved energy access is accelerating development in both rural and urban communities.
Contractor representative Engineer Mussa David said electricity has already reached Ndecha hamlet, with 56 households now enjoying power connections.
Residents expressed joy over the arrival of electricity, saying it will significantly improve their daily lives and economic opportunities.Linda Antony Nkoma, the Village Chairperson, said the project will help residents move away from unsafe energy sources such as kerosene lamps and improve productivity in households and small businesses.
The project marks a major milestone in expanding rural electrification and supports the 2026 Mwenge wa Uhuru theme: “Tanzania is Ours, Let Us Unite to Bring Development Together.”
