Dodoma — DEPUTY Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Dr Dotto Biteko, reiterated the importance of utilising natural gas as an alternative energy source for Tanzania to mitigate climate change and preserve its precious natural resources.
The Deputy Prime Minister also commended the work of journalists in raising awareness about environmental issues and the importance of sustainable energy practices.
Dr Biteko gave his commendation in Dodoma on Monday when officiating at the 13th Annual meeting of editors under the auspices of the Tanzania Editors Forum (TEF) held in the country’s capital, Dodoma.
He urged members of the Tanzania Editors Forum to continue reporting on these topics and to promote the use of natural gas as a cleaner and more environmentally friendly energy source.
The meeting brought together journalists, editors, and media professionals from across the country to discuss ways to promote environmental conservation and sustainable development through responsible journalism. During his keynote address, Dr Biteko highlighted the importance of using natural gas as a renewable energy source to protect Tanzania’s forests.
He emphasized that deforestation is a critical issue in the country, with many forests being destroyed for fuelwood and other purposes. Dr Biteko commended editors from across the country for a campaign that seeks to emphasize the use of gas for cooking in order to protect the country’s forests.
“I have been attracted by this year’s theme which says: Journalism that insists on the use of gas to protect forests, which seeks to emphasize the use of alternative cooking energy in joint efforts to rescue the country’s forests,” he noted, adding that Tanzania had enough gas to cater for domestic use.
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
According to the Deputy Prime Minister, President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been advocating the use of alternative energy to avoid the use of charcoal and is a good ambassador of gas use.
“Other countries are using gas in cooking and equally the gas is also used in motor vehicles, that is why in the ministry we have prepared a robust plan to intensify and create awareness on the use of gas in the country,” he added.
“While our President, Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan continues advocating for clean cooking in other countries from across the continent, we in the ministry want to see other countries coming to Tanzania to learn, that is why we already have a plan to distribute LPGs at all levels, in order to discourage the use of firewood,” he stated.
Attendees also had the opportunity to participate in workshops and panel discussions on topics such as climate change, renewable energy, and forest conservation.
The 13th Annual professional meeting of TEF was a successful event that highlighted the critical role of journalists in advocating for environmental protection and sustainable energy practices.
The Deputy Prime Minister’s presence at the meeting underscored the government’s commitment to addressing environmental challenges and promoting the use of natural gas to protect Tanzania’s forests.
Source: allafrica.com
Share this news
This Year's Most Read News Stories
Tanzania Declares End of Marburg Virus Disease Outbreak
Tanzania today declared the end of Marburg virus disease outbreak after recording no new cases over 42 days since the death of the last confirmed case on 28 January 2025.
The outbreak, in which two confirmed and eight probable cases were recorded (all deceased), was the second the country has experienced. Both this outbreak, which was declared on 20 January 2025, and the one in 2023 occurred in the north-eastern Kagera region.
In response to the latest outbreak, Tanzania’s health authorities set up coordination and response systems, with support from World Health Organization (WHO) and partners, at the national and regional levels and reinforced control measures to swiftly detect cases, enhance clinical care, infection prevention as well as strengthen collaboration with communities to raise awareness and help curb further spread of the virus.
Growing expertise in public health emergency response in the African region has been crucial in mounting effective outbreak control measures. Drawing on experience from the response to the 2023 Marburg virus disease outbreak, WHO worked closely with Tanzanian health authorities to rapidly scale up key measures such as disease surveillance and trained more than 1000 frontline health workers in contact tracing, clinical care and public health risk communication. The Organization also delivered over five tonnes of essential medical supplies and equipment.
“The dedication of frontline health workers and the efforts of the national authorities and our partners have paid off,” said Dr Charles Sagoe-Moses, WHO Representative in Tanzania. “While the outbreak has been declared over, we remain vigilant to respond swiftly if any cases are detected and are supporting ongoing efforts to provide psychosocial care to families affected by the outbreak.”
Building on the momentum during the acute phase of the outbreak response, measures have been put in place to reinforce the capacity of local health facilities to respond to potential future outbreaks. WHO and partners are procuring additional laboratory supplies and other equipment for disease detection and surveillance and other critical services.
Marburg virus disease is highly virulent and causes haemorrhagic fever. It belongs to the same family as the virus that causes Ebola virus disease. Illness caused by Marburg virus begins abruptly. Patients present with high fever, severe headache and severe malaise. They may develop severe haemorrhagic symptoms within seven days.
In the African region, previous outbreaks and sporadic cases have been reported in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda.
Source: allafrica.com
Zanzibar, Tanzania: Inflation hits five-year high
With Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine being blamed after inflation in Tanzania and Zanzibar rose to 4.5 this year and is climbing – the highest rate since November 2017Continue Reading
John Okello: From Zanzibar revolution icon to street beggar
In the final episode, we look at Okello’s ban in Tanganyika, rejection in Kenya tragic end in Uganda.Continue Reading
