Tanzania: Over 33,900 Shortlisted for Police Force Vacancies

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Tanzania: Over 33,900 Shortlisted for Police Force Vacancies

A total of 33,998 candidates have been shortlisted for various vacancies announced by the Tanzania Police Force.

Of the shortlisted candidates, 31,930 are from Tanzania Mainland and 2,068 from Zanzibar.

According to information published on the Police Force website and shared on the Force’s official social media platforms on Monday, the interviews will be conducted over 14 days, from July 29 to August 11, 2024.

The list, seen by the Daily News Digital, shows that Dodoma Region is leading with 3,051 applicants who have completed Form Four and Form Six, followed by Arusha (2,957), Mwanza (1,948), Temeke (1,577), and Kilimanjaro (1,426).

Areas with the fewest candidates are Rufiji (134), Tarime (127), and Songwe (374).

ALSO READ: TIOB addresses youth unemployment

In the Mainland, the list shows that 2,238 out of 31,930 candidates hold degrees, diplomas, and certificates, while 29,692 are Form Four and Form Six leavers.

In Zanzibar, 739 out of 2,068 candidates hold degrees, diplomas, and certificates, while 1,329 are Form Four and Form Six leavers.

The statement added that interviews for degree, diploma, and certificate holders will be conducted at the Police Academy (DPA) in Dar es Salaam, while those who hold Form Six and Form Four certificates will remain in their respective regions.

In Zanzibar, candidates from Unguja will be interviewed at the Police Headquarters in Zanzibar, while those who applied from Pemba will be interviewed at the South Pemba Regional Police Commander’s offices.

Source: allafrica.com

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Wadau waonyesha kasoro ulaji mbogamboga, matunda

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Dar es Salaam. Wakati ulaji wa mbogamboga na matunda ukitajwa kuwa moja ya njia ya kujenga mwili wa binadamu na kumuepusha na magonjwa, imeelezwa mboga nyingi zinazozalishwa hazifai kwa ajili ya matumizi ya binadamu.

Hiyo ni kutokana na kuwa na bakteria wanaoweza kuathiri matumbo ya watu na viuatilifu vilivyozidi kiwango.

Hayo yamesemwa leo Jumatatu, Julai 22, 2024 katika mjadala wa X Space ulioandaliwa na Mwananchi kwa kushirikiana na Shirika la Chakula na Kilimo Duniani (FAO) pamoja na Taasisi ya Chakula na Lishe Tanzania (TFNC) wenye mada inayosema: ‘Mambo muhimu ya kuzingatia katika uandaaji, ulaji wa mbogamboga na matunda.’

Akizungumza katika mjadala huo, Mtaalamu wa Kituo cha Mbogamboga duniani, Jeremiah Sigalla amesema kupitia ukaguzi waliofanya waligundua baadhi ya mboga katika masoko ya Arusha na Dar es Salaam zilikuwa chafu na zinahatarisha afya ya mlaji.

Mtaalamu huyo amesema katika taasisi yao ya World Vegetable Centre kupitia tafiti walizozifanya wamegundua mboga hizo zina kiwango kikubwa cha wadudu wanaodhuru tumbo.

“Kupitia kuangalia viambata ambavyo vinaathiri lishe na afya ya mlaji, mboga hizi zimekuwa na kiwango kikubwa cha bakteria wanaodhuru mazingira ya tumbo na katika baadhi ya masoko ya Arusha ya Dar es Salaam tumekuta mboga nyingi ambazo zinaonekana nzuri kwa macho ukazinunua, lakini kwa afya si salama,” amesema Jeremiah.

Amesema kwa kuwa maeneo mengi ya mijini mboga hizo zinahitajika kwa wingi, ndio maana hata mazingira ya uzalishaji wake si salama.

Hivyo amesema kwa kushirikiana na wadau mbalimbali kama FAO wanaona ni muhimu elimu kutolewa kwa wakulima katika matumizi ya dawa ambazo zinatumika kuzitunza mboga hizo.

“Kuna baadhi ya dawa na mbolea maarufu kama busta zinachangia uharabifu wa hizi mboga. Teknolojia inakua, lakini njia za teknolojia hiyo kama mzalishaji asipopata taarifa sahihi itaathiri uzalishaji na tija inayopatikana katika uzalishaji wake,” amebainisha Sigalla.

Katika hilo, Mtafiti na mtaalamu wa chakula, Martin Kimanya amesema mtu anapokula mbogamboga zilizochafuliwa ikiwemo kemikali ni sawa na kutokuwa navyo nyumbani.

“Tatizo kubwa lililopo nchini katika eneo la mbogamboga ni uchafuzi kutokana na matumizi ya viuatilifu katika kiwango ambacho si bora,” amesema.

Amesema kuwa pia kuna wakulima wanataka kuongeza uzalishaji, lakini wamekuwa wakifanya katika namna ambayo haifai na wengi hawana ufahamu ambao utawafanya wajue ni aina gani ya viuatilifu si sahihi vya kutumia.

“Kwa bahati mbaya udhibiti wa viatilifu vilivyopo sokoni kwetu pia si mzuri, kwani baadhi vinaweza kuwa vimepigwa marufuku huko nje, lakini bado vikawepo sokoni huku wakulima wakikosa mbinu sahihi ya kutumia viatifu hivyo,” amesema Profesa Kimanya.

Amesema ukubwa wa hili tatizo unatokana na mambo matatu la kwanza ni wakulima kutumia viatifu ambavyo baadhi haviruhusiwi na hawajui namna nzuri ya kuvitumia, maofisa ugani na kilimo kutokuwa na uwezo wa kumfikia mtu kwa namna inayotakiwa ili kumueleza namna nzuri ya utumiaji ili kutoathiri afya ya mlaji.

Alichokisema Malembo

Kuhusu maofisa ugani kuhudumia wakulima, Mkurugenzi wa Malembo Farm, Lucas Malembo amesema utafiti uliofanywa na Jukwaa Huru la Kilimo ANSAF mwaka 2017 umeonyesha asilimia 48 ya vijiji 15,082 vilivyosajiliwa nchini havina maofisa ugani wa kutosha.

Utafiti unaonyesha pengo hilo wakati ambao sera ya kilimo ya mwaka 2013 ikitaka kila kijiji kuwa na afisa ugani mmoja.

“Katika hali ya kawaida bado kuna changamoto ya usalama wa mboga tunazokula kutokana na uhaba wa watalaamu. Matumizi mabaya ya viuatilifu ni matokeo ya wakulima wengi kutokuwa na elimu ya kilimo biashara sensa ya kilimo ya mwaka 2019/2020 inaonyesha matumizi ya viuatilifu ni asilimia mbili ya wakulima wote nchini,” amesema.

Hata hivyo, Profesa Kimanya amesema kutokana na kutokuwa na uhakika na usalama wa tunda linapotoka ni vyema kuliosha na kulimenya kabla ya kuanza kula.

Kuosha na kumenya kunapunguza kemikali ambazo zinapatikana, ijapokuwa utapunguza baadhi ya virutubisho katika tunda hilo.

Faida za tunda

Pamoja na changamoto hizo, Mkurugenzi Idara ya Elimu na Mafunzo ya Lishe kutoka Taasisi ya Chakula na Lishe Tanzania (TFNC,) Dk Esther Nkuba amesema mwili wa binadamu unahitaji virutubisho zaidi ya 50 kwa siku na kila chakula kina virutubisho zaidi ya kimoja, hivyo ulaji wa matunda wakati wa kula iwe asubuhi mchana au jioni hauna tatizo.

“Hakuna tafiti inayosema ukila matunda kwa kuchanganya inatengeneza sumu. Ukila ndizi ukachanganya na parachichi mwili wenyewe unajua chakufanya,” amesema Dk Nkuba.

Akichangia hoja hiyo, Mkurugenzi wa Hospitali ya Muhimbili, Profesa Mohammed Janabi amependekeza watu kupenda kula matunda yenyewe badala ya kunywa juisi, ili kupunguza wingi wa sukari anayoweza kuinywa kwa wakati mmoja.

“Pia watu wale vyakula badala ya kutumia dawa za virutubishi, kwani haviwezi kuwa mbadala wake,” amesema Profesa Janabi.

Naibu Katibu Mkuu Wizara ya Kilimo Zanziba, Dk Omar Ally Amir amesema katika kukabiliana na changamoto hizo wanachokifanya sasa ni kuangalia namna wanayoweza kuwafikia wakulima, ili kuzalisha mbogamboga na matunda ambayo ni salama kwa walaji.

“Pia tunajaribu kuhimiza kilimo hai kisichotumia viuatilifu, ili mazao yanapozalishwa yawe salama kwa watumiaji,” amesema Dk Amir.Continue Reading

Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu fires foreign, information ministers

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By REUTERS

Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has fired two senior members of government including the foreign minister in a mini-cabinet reshuffle, her office said.

The changes came as Hassan seeks to regain trust from foreign powers over a programme of economic and political reforms, including easing restrictions on opposition parties and media, that some critics had seen as faltering.

The presidency announced late on Sunday, July 21, that Hassan terminated the appointments of the minister of foreign affairs and East Africa cooperation, January Makamba, and the minister of information, communication and information technology, Nape Nnauye.

They are influential figures in the ruling party, Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM).

No reason was given for their removal. Makamba and Nnauye did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Read: Samia replaces TRA chief amid diplomats, traders tax complaints

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The dismissal of Nnauye comes a week after comments he made surfaced in a video, saying elections results would depend on who counts votes and announces the results.

Nnauye later apologised, saying it was a joke, but activists and some social media users said the statement undermined Hassan’s push to improve democracy.

Also read: Will sacked minister Nnauye join rebellion in CCM?

Hassan appointed Mahmoud Thabit Kombo as new foreign affairs minister and Jerry Silaa as minister of information, communication and information technology.

Before Kombo’s appointment, he was Tanzania’s ambassador to Italy while Silaa was the minister of lands, housing and human settlements development. Two more ministers and deputy ministers were also appointed, the presidency said.

In power since 2021, Hassan’s government has won praise for rolling back her predecessor’s crackdowns on the opposition and civil rights groups. But arrests last year of a lawyer and an opposition politician have raised questions over her government’s human rights record.

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Rais Samia asimulia machungu mpunga wake ulivyoliwa na mifugo

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Dodoma. Rais Samia Suluhu Hassan ameelezea machungu wanayokutana wakulima kwa mazao yao kuliwa na mifugo, huku akasimulia majibu ya dharau aliyopewa na mfugaji baada ya mifugo kula mpunga katika shamba lake, eneo la Dutumi, Mkoa wa Morogoro.

Akizungumza leo Julai 20, 2024 wakati akizungumza na machifu nchini, Rais Samia amesema kuna migogoro kati ya wakulima na wafugaji ambapo watu wamekuwa wakipigwa, kuuana na mazao yao kuliwa na mifugo.

“Niwaombe sana machifu wenzangu tukayasimamie haya. Tunapoacha wakulima na wafugaji wakauana na mara nyingi wanaoonewa ni wakulima, hii si haki. Nitakupeni mfano ulionipata mimi mwenyewe,” amesema.

Amesema aliwahi kulima mpunga katika eneo la Dutumi, Mkoa wa Morogoro na kwamba alilima mara ya kwanza kwa kuweka fedha yake yote kwenye shamba hilo.

“Basi wakaja watu na ng’ombe wao, mpunga umenawiri, nishasema hapa umasikini bye bye (kwa heri), dakika 10 nyingi mpunga wote ukaingia ng’ombe kama 300, wakaula. Sikuweza kufanya kitu chochote,” amesema.

Hata hivyo, amesema watoto wake walimweleza kuwa wajaribu tena kulima kwenye shamba hilo na hivyo akaamua kulima nusu ya eneo alilolima awali.

Amesema lakini mpunga ulivyoanza kuchanua na kuvutia na ukaanza kutoa harufu, ng’ombe waliingia tena katika shamba na kuula tena.

“Tulipokwenda katika kesi, mara hii nikasema hapana. Nikachukua mtendaji wa kijiji, polisi, sijui nani nikasema twende. Tulipokwenda katika kesi mfugaji anasema ng’ombe wangu kala mpunga wapi? Aliingia katika ghala ya nani, amekula majani tu,” amesema.

Rais Samia amesema inapotokea dharau ya namna hiyo ambayo inatolewa kwa mtu ambaye ameshapoteza nguvu na fedha na jasho, haileti amani Tanzania.

“Mfugaji anasema ng’ombe amekula majani tu, hajaingia katika ghala kula mpunga wa mtu. Sasa mambo kama haya yakitokea hayaleti amani Tanzania. Niwaombe sana machifu katika maeneo yetu tukayasimamie hayo,”amesema.

Aidha, Rais Samia amewataka Watanzania, viongozi wa Serikali, taasisi zisizo za kiserikali, viongozi wa kidini na machifu, kukemea vitendo viovu vinavyokiuka maadili ya Kitanzania.

“Tunapoona vitendo vya ovyo katika maeneo yetu, machifu tusemeni, tukemee. Kama mnamuona mkuu wenu wa wilaya hafanyi vyema mkemeeni, msemeni, muumbueni tumjue. Kama mnamuona kiongozi haendi mwendo mwema tuambieni tumjue ili tulete viongozi waadilifu na mambo yaende vizuri,” amesema.

Amesema mwongozo kwa ajili ya kuratibu shughuli za machifu nchini unaandaliwa, ambao ndio utaweka utaratibu wa kuwasema viongozi wanaokiuka maadili na sio kusimama na kuropoka.

“Niwaombe twende tukakemee vitendo viovu vinavyokiuka maadili yetu. Tudumishe upendo, amani, utu na kuheshimiana,” amesema.

Pia amewataka Watanzania wanapohama kutoka eneo moja kwenda jingine, kufuata mwongozo unaowataka kuchukua barua wanapotoka na kupeleka wanakokwenda ili kuwatambulisha.

“Lakini watu wanahamishana usiku na malori, wao na wanyama, wakifika mahali wanateremshana, pengine kuna mwenyeji anawasubiri wanavamia mapori, wanavamia misitu wanaingia huko,wengine wanafyeka mapori,” amesema.

Naye, Waziri wa Utamaduni, Sanaa na Michezo, Dk Damas Ndumbaro amesema kwa sasa Serikali iko katika hatua za mwisho ya kuandaa mwongozo wa kutambua machifu na viongozi wa kimila, ili waweze kupata heshima wanayostahili kwa jamii na Serikali kwa ujumla.

“Mwongozo unaoandaliwa utatambua machifu na viongozi wa kimila katika ngazi ya wilaya na mikoa ili kutoa fursa kwa machifu kutekeleza jukumu lao la msingi la kuwawezesha Watanzania kuendelea kupata haki yao ya kikatiba na uhuru wa kuabudu kupitia mila, desturi na imani za kijadi,” amesema.

Aidha, Dk Ndumbaro amesema taarifa za uchumi za Benki Kuu ya Tanzania (BoT), mwaka 2023 zinaonyesha kuwa sekta ya utamaduni na sanaa inaongoza kwa kukua nchini ambapo imekuwa kwa asilimia 17.7.

Awali, Mwenyekiti wa Umoja wa machifu wa Tanzania, (UMT), Antonia Shangalai amesema kuwa Rais Samia amepandisha hadhi ya wanawake wa Tanzania kwa kuwapandisha vya kutosha na kuwataka mawaziri kutoa ushirikiano wa kutosha kwake.

“Sisi machifu tuko nyuma yenu tutaenzi mila, kuheshimiana, kuwaheshimu wakubwa na mambo yote yanayokwenda na mila na desturi zetu tusiyoyataka na nyie hamyataki na Serikali haiyataki. Tunaendelea kupambania hayo yasiendelee kuwepo kabisa,”amesema.

Akitoa baraka za machifu, Chifu Rocket Mwashinga amesema wakati nchi inaelekea kwenye uchaguzi wa Serikali za mitaa na uchaguzi mkuu, anahimiza Watanzania kulinda amani ya nchi na kuonya suala la ukabila.Continue Reading

Tanzania: Dar-Dodoma SGR Train Begins Next Week

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Tanzania: Dar-Dodoma SGR Train Begins Next Week

The Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) train operations between Dar es Salaam, Morogoro and Dodoma will begin on Thursday next week as earlier planned, the Tanzania Railway Corporation (TRC) has announced.

The development came after the corporation officially launched the SGR operations from Dar es Salaam to Morogoro mid-June this year.

According to TRC Head of Communication Department Ms Jamila Mbarouk, the commencement of the SGR train services will bring changes to train schedules.

ALSO READ: Electric train poses little threat to air travel

She said the Express Train will depart from Dar es Salaam at 6:00am and leave Dodoma at 5:30am. The ordinary train from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma will depart the Capital City at 17:30 pm and leave Dar es Salaam at 18:55pm.

Ms Mbarouk detailed that the ordinary train from Dar es Salaam heading to Morogoro will leave at 9:30am and 16:00pm and depart Morogoro at 9:50am and 16:20pm.

SGR train tickets are available at ticket offices within SGR station buildings or through the online ticketing system available at https://sgrticket.trc.co.tz/.

During the official launch of Dar es Salaam – Morogoro route, passengers enjoyed a free ride after President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan decided to provide free tickets to more than 1400 passengers.

Deputy Minister for Transport, David Kihenzile was among the first passengers in the first ever electric train in the country.

Mr Kihenzile said the Head of State ordered TRC to offer free service to all passengers who will use the service in the launching day.

The train started its journey from Dar es Salaam at 6:10 am and arrived at Morogoro main station at 7:56am covering 300kilometrers using only 1:45 hours.

Source: allafrica.com

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Kenya Moves to Slash Rice Imports With Certified Seed Production

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Kenya is implementing measures to cut rice imports with the development of sustainable certified seed production system.

The country’s research body-Kenya Agricultural Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) is pioneering the efforts in partnership with a Korean agency, which will ensure Kenya, which ships in up to 75 percent of the total rice requirement annually, cuts reliance on imports.

In a five-year collaboration with the Korea Partnership for Innovative Agriculture (KOPIA), the project will focus on the production of early-generation seed, the multiplication of elite varieties, and distribution to farmers.

The project will produce 5.8 tonnes of early-generation seed and 1,000 tonnes of certified Generation 1 seeds of high-yielding, climate-resilient varieties. Additionally, it will train 75 local technical experts, 10 experts in South Korea, and 210 farmers in quality rice seed production.

Speaking at the project launch in Mwea, KALRO Director General Eliud Kireger said Kenya’s domestic rice sector has failed to meet rising demand, a situation exacerbated by middle-class population growth and urbanisation.

“Rice consumption is increasing, especially among young people. With urban population expected to reach 50 percent by 2050, the demand for rice will significantly outpace supply,” said Kireger Dr Kireger.

Dr Kireger highlighted that the current per capita rice consumption is 28 kg per year, projected to rise to 30 kg by 2027, resulting in a demand of 1.8 million tonnes.

Presently, Kenya consumes about 950,000 to one million tonnes annually but produces only 200,000 tonnes, creating an 80 percent deficit.

To address this, the government aims to achieve a 25 percent annual growth rate in rice production under its Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.

The DG expressed optimism that within four to five years, the project could reduce the deficit by up to 60 percent by improving access to high-yielding certified seeds.

KOPIA will contribute to rice research by introducing and commercialising Tongil rice varieties from the Korea Africa Food and Agriculture Cooperative Initiative (KAFACI), including ISRIZ 6, ISRIZ 7, and UKAFACI 39.

The project will also address mechanisation challenges faced by farmers, particularly in drying processes.

KOPIA Kenya Director Ji Gang Kim emphasised the importance of increasing rice self-sufficiency through new varieties, certified seed dissemination, and improved cultivation technology. He also highlighted the need for better drying and post-harvest management to ensure high-quality rice.

John Macharia, a rice farmer from Bura, Tana River, praised KALRO for addressing seed access challenges. “Since introducing the Komboka variety, we’ve improved our yields and eliminated brokers dictating prices,” he said.

KALRO and KOPIA have collaborated for over 15 years on projects including maize, indigenous chicken, potato, and sericulture. Currently, they are promoting chicken feeds containing black soldier fly larvae and rice by-products in Kenya.

Source: allafrica.com

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Tanzania: Chinese Investors Invited in Blue Economy

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Tanzania: Chinese Investors Invited in Blue Economy

Zanzibar — The Administration of Shandong Province of China has shown interest in investing in various development areas in the isles.

The delegation led by the Vice-Chairman of Shandong Province Mr Zhang Xinwen expressed the interest when they met President Hussein Mwinyi at the State House.

President Mwinyi invited the investors to invest in various areas including the blue economy sector.

“We still have many areas including opportunities in fishing, tourism, sea transport and agriculture and the government guarantees security and good environment of investing and doing business with improved infrastructures,” Dr Mwinyi said.

He explained that the people of Zanzibar are proud of the existing strong Zanzibar-China historical relation that has enabled medical personnel from China including Shandong province to serve in Zanzibar for many years.

“We thank China government and medical personnels for the ongoing support in improving healthcare in the Islands of Zanzibar, providing services in various hospitals,” said Dr Mwinyi as Mr Zhang utilised the opportunity to invite the Zanzibar President to visit the province.

ALSO READ: Mwinyi optimistic of US Congressional visit

President Mwinyi accepted the invitation to visit Shandong Province.

The Province Vice-Chairman thanked Zanzibar government and its people for the good reception, which further cements the relations.

“We will find areas to invest in blue economy and agriculture,” Mr Zhang said.

Meanwhile the Switzerland Ambassador to Tanzania, Mr Didier Chassot met Dr Mwinyi and discussed various issues including strengthening relationship between Switzerland and Zanzibar, according to a statement from the State House.

Source: allafrica.com

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Tanzania: 98% of Villages Successfully Electrified

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In a significant milestone of rural transformation, the Rural Energy Agency (REA) has successfully electrified 98 per cent of all villages across the country.

Such great stride in the energy sector is in line with the ruling party CCM’s 2020-2025 Election Manifesto, which directs the government to supply electricity to all streets and villages by 2025.

With one year ahead to the deadline, the sixth phase government under President Samia Suluhu Hassan is on track to beat the envisioned goal of connecting all villages with electricity infrastructure, which is critical in elevating citizens’ living standard.

The REA Director of Rural Electrification, Engineer Jones Olotu told the ‘Daily News’ in an exclusive interview in Dar es Salaam recently that as of July this year the power agency connected with electricity a total of 12,031 villages, equivalent to 98 per cent of all villages.

He said currently, only 287 villages are not connected with power, noting they will be connected to power in September this year.

He said that a total 8,247 villages had already been connected with electricity, equivalent to 66 per cent by 2020.

And, REA has been implementing a five years grand plan of electrifying the remaining 4,071 villages that would see all 12,318 villages countrywide linked with power by next year.

REA ambitious plan is aligned with the ruling party CCM’s Election Manifesto 2020-2025 and the Third National Five-Year Development Plan covering 2021/2022 to 2025/2026 (Third FYDP) that aims at guiding the country’s efforts towards the attainment of the Tanzania Development Vision 2025, all together intend on among others to achieve a middle-income, competitive and semi-industrialised economy with shared growth and high-quality human development.

“We are ahead of the manifesto as by September this year, which is before its time limit (2025), we are going to realise electrification of all villages,” Mr Olotu said.

He said availability of electricity in rural areas has been boosting citizens’ income by enabling them open new economic activities such as shops and kiosks, groceries, restaurants and hair cutting and beauty salons.

ALSO READ: PURA set to announce new oil, gas exploration opportunities

Furthermore, it improved domestic activities like lighting, charging phones and listening to radio, he said adding it also made life easier and more pleasurable by allowing businesses and kiosks to function even during the night hours.

On the other hand electricity supported children’s education by allowing them to study at night, he said and noted it enabled villagers to receive health services closer to their homes and at a lower cost.

The next step ahead, he said REA’s focus is to ensure electricity reaches all hamlets and households referring to the fact that presently, only 32, 827 hamlets equated at 51 per cent have power, while 31,532 others are yet to be connected.

He said the rural energy body has another five years electrification plan spanning from the current 2024/2025 Financial Year aiming at lighting 20,000 hamlets at a cost of about 6tri/-.

Mr Olotu detailed that REA projected to connect 4,000 hamlets per year. The country has a total of 64,359 hamlets.

“Up to now, we are undertaking procurements for implementation of the first batch within the current financial year. Few days to come, we will announce tenders for contractors to be located to specific hamlets,” he said.

Toward national wide households’ electrification, according to the Third FYDP, the country targets at ensuring 60 per cent of all households are connected with power by the end of 2025/2026 FY from 40 per cent lighted in 2021/2022.

He lauded the government for implementation of the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Plant (JNHPP) project that after its completion is expected to add 2,115 megawatts (MW) into the national grid, critical in stabilising electricity supply in the country and beyond.

In February 2024, the project injected 235MW into the national grid after a switching on of its ninth turbine that strengthened electricity availability both in urban and rural areas.

A villager, Mr Peter Nzema (30) based in Bukumbi village, Shinyanga Region commended the government for connecting their rural community with electricity.

He said their village was connected in 2023 ending over five decades of living in dark without electricity.

He said prior to being connected with electricity their village’s economic activities were paralysed with no any factory in comparison to now whereby a maize mill has been established by a local investor.

More significantly, he said the Bukumbi village experiences some sort of urbanisation, as a result of residents who take initiative to open up saloons and shops.

“It is just a beginning of transformation of the village that for so long time we used to dream one day to have electricity,” Mr Nzema said.

However, he noted that there is a slow pace in connecting the hamlets existing in their villages.

“It’s okay that the electricity has reached our village but the number of households connected remains less than 10, the power has not been distributed to our residential area as we hoped,” he said, adding “We are ready to pay.”

Mr Nzema told Daily news if REA starts to connect households in their village, it will enable small farmers including himself who choose to undertake irrigation especially in vegetable and fruit crops including tomatoes and water melon to scale up production.

“Small scale farmers who adopt irrigation are eager to see their households and hamlets are connected with electricity to get rid of using diesel powered generators, which make them incur high cost of production,” he said.

Reacting on the on-going rural electrification, Economist cum Investment Banker, Dr Hildebrand Shayo anticipated that the transformative move will directly affect, positively though, the commercial sector through the use of specific electrical appliances encompassing refrigerators.

Furthermore, he said presence of electric lights will facilitate residents to extend working hours, subsequently propelling the country’s development.

“Electrification in rural areas may result in to increases in daytime working hours and noticeable increases in evening and night time working hour,” Dr Shayo said.

Dr Shayo said in his ongoing research on Economic Impact of Rural Electrification in Tanzania, he found that the number of shops per 1,000 people in electrified villages is 4.28, compared to 3.43 in nonelectrified villages, a roughly 25 per cent difference.

Regarding institutional development, he said that electrified villages in several case study areas have much greater levels of institutional development.

“I can assert that it dramatically improves the general standard of living in rural areas, lowers rural-urban migration, increases industrial and agricultural production, and produces more jobs” Dr Shayo remarked.

Ms Betty Mbuzi, a resident at Mwatulole Street in Geita Region said she was optimistic that electrification all villages in their region will catalyse mining activities involving artisanal miners in their region which is endowed with minerals.

She noted that lack of electricity in some villages while others are connected with it culminate into energy divide.

Source: allafrica.com

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