Zambia’s Rural Electrification Authority (REA) has praised Tanzania’s impressive progress in expanding electricity access to rural communities after concluding a nine-day study tour aimed at learning from the country’s successful rural electrification programme.
The delegation, which completed its visit on Monday, June 29, 2026, said Tanzania has made remarkable strides in delivering electricity to rural households through projects implemented by the Rural Energy Agency (REA), providing valuable lessons for other African countries seeking to accelerate energy access.
Speaking during a wrap-up meeting at REA’s offices in Upanga, Dar es Salaam, the representative of the Chief Executive Officer of Zambia’s REA, Engineer Suzyo Silavwe, thanked Tanzania’s Ministry of Energy and its agencies for hosting the delegation and facilitating extensive knowledge-sharing sessions.
She said the visit had provided an opportunity to exchange technical expertise while observing first-hand how Tanzania has planned and implemented rural electrification projects that have transformed communities and supported socio-economic development.
“We have had a very productive visit. Through our meetings and field visits, we have exchanged experiences and learned a great deal. We were particularly impressed by the progress Tanzania has made in expanding electricity access to rural areas,” Engineer Silavwe said.
She noted that the practical lessons gained during the tour would help Zambia strengthen its own rural electrification initiatives and improve electricity access for communities that remain off the national grid.
During the visit, the delegation held discussions with officials from the Ministry of Energy and the Rural Energy Agency and toured several electrification projects to gain insights into project planning, financing, implementation and sustainability.
Officials said the exchange reflects growing regional cooperation in the energy sector, with African countries increasingly seeking to learn from successful development models within the continent.
The Ministry of Energy’s Assistant Director of Administration, Mr Wilson Nyamanga, said the visit by the Zambian delegation demonstrates international recognition of Tanzania’s achievements in rural electrification.
He said the country’s progress has been driven by sustained government investment and policies aimed at ensuring that reliable electricity reaches rural households, businesses and public institutions.
REA Director of Rural Electrification, Engineer Jones Olotu, said Tanzania remains committed to sharing its experience with neighbouring countries while continuing to expand electricity access across rural areas.
He said collaboration between African countries is essential in accelerating universal access to electricity and supporting inclusive economic development.
The study tour is expected to strengthen cooperation between Tanzania and Zambia in the energy sector while promoting the exchange of technical expertise and best practices to advance rural electrification across the region.
