Wananchi wataja sababu, vikwazo kutumia nishati safi ya kupikia

Wananchi wataja sababu, vikwazo kutumia nishati safi ya kupikia

Wananchi wataja sababu, vikwazo kutumia nishati safi ya kupikia

Dar/Mikoani. Ukosefu wa elimu sahihi, gharama kubwa ya awali ya matumizi, uhaba wa malighafi na miundombinu kuwafikia ni baadhi ya changamoto zinazolalamikiwa na wananchi kuwa vikwazo vya kuhamia kwenye matumizi ya nishati safi ya kupikia.

Wanasema licha ya kuhitaji kutumia nishati hiyo, vikwazo hivyo vinawakatisha tamaa, huku baadhi wakidai ni bora kuendelea kutumia mkaa na kuni kama walivyorithi kutoka kwa babu zao, kwa kuwa upatikanaji wake ni rahisi katika mazingira wanayoishi.

Wasifu wa Msingi wa Idadi ya Watu na Hali ya Kiuchumi wa Tanzania wa Mwaka 2022 ulionyesha zaidi ya kaya nne kati ya tano nchini (asilimia 81.6) zinategemea mkaa na kuni, kama chanzo cha nishati ya kupikia.

Septemba 10 hadi 20, mwaka huu waandishi wa Mwananchi walitembelea baadhi ya maeneo katika mikoa ya Pwani, Tanga, Dar es Salaam na Morogoro ambako wananchi walieleza ugumu wa kutumia nishati rafiki kwa mazingira.

Gharama kilio kikubwa

“Natumia gesi nina miaka mitatu sasa unakuta wakati mwingine inaisha ghafla na gharama za kujaza ni Sh25,000, hatuna maduka ya huduma hiyo jirani, tunalazima kwenda kujaza wilayani Bagamoyo. Ukiongeza na gharama ya bodaboda ni Sh29,000,” anasema Aisha Salum, mkazi wa Kitongoji cha Madukani.

Hoja hiyo inaungwa mkono na Ilima Othuman, anayesema walio wengi wamenunua mitungi hadi kwa Sh55,000 lakini shida wanayopitia ni kukosa fedha ya kwenda kujaza na gharama za usafiri hadi huduma zinakopatikana.

“… hizo ni fedha nyingi, hivyo bora kuweka kando na kutumia mkaa au kuni,” anasema.

Matha James, mkazi wa Manispaa ya Morogoro anasema, “mimi pale nyumbani nina jiko la gesi, lakini ni mara chache natumia tena kwa kupika vitu vyepesi kama chai na kupasha chakula kwa sababu najua ikiisha kujaza ni fedha nyingi.”

Salmin Shaaban, mkazi wa Bagamoyo anasema changamoto nyingine ni imani, akieleza wanaamini gesi haiivishi chakula vizuri na ili kiive na kiwe kizuri, mfano wali lazima uokwe kwa kupalia moto wa mkaa juu.

“Ukipika wali kwa kutumia gesi na kwa kutumia mkaa kuna tofauti kubwa. Hata ladha yake ni tofauti na kuna vyakula vingine kama kunde na maharage vinachukua muda mrefu kuiva inakuwa ngumu kutumia gesi,” anasema.

Mbali ya hilo, anasema wanaogopa gesi kwa sababu huwa inalipuka.

Anasema iwapo Serikali itafanikiwa kuwawezesha kuacha mazoea ya kutumia nishati zilizotumiwa tangu enzi za mababu itakuwa jambo zuri wao, ingawa anasema si rahisi kupata mafanikio kwa haraka. “Ukinunua mkaa wa Sh1,000 una uwezo wa kupikia hata milo mitatu kwa siku, kwa hiyo tukipiga hesabu Sh1,000 kwa mwezi unaweza kupata mkaa wa kutumia bila kuchoka tofauti na mtungi wa gesi unaweza kutubana katika matumizi,” anasema.

Mama lishem Rehema Mkomwa aliye wilayani Handeni mkoani Tanga anasema, “nimepata elimu ya matumizi ya gesi, ila kwa biashara yangu ni hasara, mtungi wa Sh23,000 natumia wiki mbili wakati mkaa wa bei hiyo unaweza kufika hadi mwezi.”

Mjasiriamali katika Mtaa wa Shauri Moyo, wilayani Bagamoyo, Subira Abdallah anasema watu wengi wanapenda kutumia nishati safi, lakini inakuwa ngumu kwa kuwa hawajawezeshwa. Anasema anafanya biashara ya kuuza chakula ambacho sahani moja ni Sh1,500, hivyo kwa mazingira hayo hawawezi kuwa na nishati safi kutokana na gharama za uendeshaji.

Serikali za vijiji

Mwenyekiti wa Kitongoji cha Madukani, Fatma Muhidin anasema anatambua athari zitokanazo na mazingira na amekuwa akijitahidi kuunga mkono mpango wa Serikali wa kupambana na uharibu.

“Tumekuwa tukifanya vikao kuhamasishana namna bora ya kutumia nishati safi, wananchi wanahamasika katika nyumba 10 unakuta walionunua mitungi ni wengi, changamoto iliyopo ni kubadilisha kwani watu hawana kipato cha uhakika.

“Bajeti zetu zimekuwa za siku, hatuwezi kupangilia nikiumwa itakuwaje? Chakula tumekuwa tukisuasua kwa sababu elimu ya bajeti ni shida. Tukikwamuka kwa mtu kujua kwa mwezi anatakiwa kutumia kiasi gani naamini jambo litakuwa rahisi,” anasema.

Fatma anaomba mamlaka husika kupitia mafunzo na warsha kuwaelimisha wananchi umuhimu wa kuwa na bajeti kwa kujua mahitaji na yanapatikanaje.

Mwenyekiti wa Kitongoji cha Shauri Moyo, Mwanaharusi Sultani anasema katika eneo lake mwamko wa matumizi ya nishati safi hauridhishi, akieleza changamoto ni gharama za bidhaa hiyo.

“Hata wale wachache walionunua wakitumia ile gesi ya mwanzo wanashindwa kuendelea kujaza na kuanza kutumia tena nishati ya kuni na mkaa,” anasema.

Mfanyabiashara ya gesi katika Kijiji cha Mzenga wilayani Kisarawe, Alphonce Cleopa anasema hamasa ya wananchi kuingia katika matumizi ya nishati hiyo bado hairidhishi, kwani asilimia 80 ya wateja wake ni watumishi katika sekta ya umma na binafsi.

“Ili mwananchi apate mtungi lazima agharamie kuanzia Sh50,000 na kuendelea apate mtungi kamili, lakini kwa hali halisi ya uchumi wa wananchi wa Mzenga wanashindwa kumudu,” anasema.

Anapendekeza Serikali itoe ruzuku katika gesi, ili bei ishuke kuwawezesha wananchi wa kawaida kupata huduma, hasa wale wa vijijini. Pia anasema viwekwe vituo mtu akiwa na Sh2,000 apate huduma kulingana na kiwango cha fedha yake.

Mikakati ya muda mrefu

Mdau na Mwanaharakati wa Mazingira, Clay Mwaifwani anasema fedha ni tatizo katika matumizi ya nishati safi, hivyo ametaka mikakati iendane na kuongeza pato la Mtanzania.

“Ni wajibu wa Serikali kusimamia utajiri wa nchi na kuugawanya kwa watu wake, wengi tutaongea kuhusu nishati safi ya kupikia, lakini bosi ni hela. Maisha bora ni ongezeko la pato la mtu mmoja mmoja, awe na hela ya kuamua apikie gesi au umeme,” anasema.

Ofisa Mjiolojia kutoka Wizara ya Nishati, Ngeleja Mgejwa anasema Mei, mwaka huu Serikali ilizindua mkakati wa miaka 10 unaolenga asilimia 80 ya Watanzania watumie nishati safi hadi 2034.

“Tunachofanya sasa ni utekelezaji kwa uhamasishaji wa wananchi wafahamu vizuri nishati safi ipoje na aina ya nishati safi na unaona hadi viongozi wakubwa wanaonyesha mfano,” anasema.

Mgejwa anasema bila kuonyesha mfano Watanzania wengi hawawezi kuelewa, hivyo wabunge wamekuwa wakipewa mitungi kutoa kwenye makundi maalumu, akieleza Wakala wa Nishati Vijijini (REA) inafanya kazi kubwa.

“Tunaendelea kuhamasisha na kuwaambia wananchi suala la nishati ya kupikia linawezekana. Serikali inachokifanya ni kuhakikisha miundombinu inafika kwa wananchi, ili wapate huduma kwa bei nafuu,” anasema.

Akizungumzia gharama anasema, “tunatengeneza mazingira kwa kuweka miundombinu ifike hadi kwa wananchi na kupata eneo fulani wengine watatumia mitungi ya gesi, baadhi watatumia umeme na wengine mkaa mbadala,” anasema. Anasema katika aina hizo wananchi watakuwa wanatumia kulingana na eneo na teknolojia ipi inaweza kuwa rahisi kwao.

Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Pwani, Aboubakar Kunenge, anasema walianza kutekeleza mpango huo wa miaka 10 baada ya kufunga mtungi wa tani 10 katika Shule ya Sekondari Ruvu Juu na kugawa mitungi ya gesi kwa wananchi, na kufanya kampeni za upandaji miti na kampeni ya kuzuia ukataji misitu kwa ajili ya mkaa na kuni.

Kunenge anasema wameweka msukumo kwenye elimu kwa kuwa wamebaini hata wakigawa mitungi ikiisha, waliyonunuliwa wanapata changamoto kwenda kujaza.

Mkuu wa Wilaya ya Handeni, Albert Msando anasema Serikali imechukua hatua maalumu za kuhamasisha na kuelimisha wananchi kuhusu matumizi ya nishati safi ya kupikia, kwa kupunguza kutoa vibali kwa watu wanaokata mkaa.

“Tutaendelea kupunguza utoaji wa vibali mtu akiomba kibali cha kuvuna magunia 2,000 ya mkaa tunampa nusu, lengo ni kupunguza uvunaji na baadaye kufuta kabisa utoaji vibali,” anasema.

Imeandikwa na Tuzo Mapunda, Rajabu Athumani na Hamida Sharrif kwa udhamini wa Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Source: mwananchi.co.tz

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Tanzania's opposition party ACT Wazalendo honours veteran politician under new policy
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Tanzania’s opposition party ACT Wazalendo honours veteran politician under new policy

Unguja. Opposition party ACT Wazalendo today officially bids farewell to its former Chairman, Juma Duni Haji, also known as Babu Duni, as part of a new policy designed to honor retired senior leaders at a ceremony held at Kiembesamaki, Zanzibar.

The initiative highlights the party’s commitment to recognizing and supporting individuals who have served with dedication and integrity.

Babu Duni, who stepped down earlier this year, was succeeded by Othman Masoud, now the First Vice President of Zanzibar.

The policy aims to provide ongoing respect and support to retired leaders, ensuring their continued recognition and contribution to the party’s development.

“Recognizing their significant contributions to the development and prosperity of the party, this policy ensures that retired leaders continue to be acknowledged and respected by both the party and the community,” the policy states.

To benefit from this policy, leaders must not have left or been expelled from the party. They must have served the party with honor and dedication. The national leadership committee will determine whether a leader has fulfilled these criteria.

The policy seeks to honor retired leaders, protect their dignity, acknowledge their contributions, leverage their ideas for the party’s growth, and support them to the best of the party’s ability.

In honoring these leaders, the party will provide a vehicle, the type of which will be determined by the national leadership committee. Additionally, they will receive a monthly allowance, with the amount also set by this committee.

Other benefits include health insurance. If a leader does not own a home, the party will cover their rent at a rate decided by the committee.

The leadership committee may also grant special recognition based on the leader’s contributions. Retired leaders will participate in decision-making meetings according to procedures outlined in the party’s constitution.

Depending on the party’s resources at the time, the policy may also apply to retired deputy chairpersons for both the mainland and Zanzibar, the Secretary-General, Deputy Secretary-General for both mainland and Zanzibar, and the party’s Attorney General.

Additionally, leaders, executives, or members with exceptional contributions to the party’s protection, advocacy, and defense may also benefit, as determined by the leadership committee.

Currently, those who are eligible for benefits under this policy include Juma Duni Haji (retired party Chairman) and Zitto Kabwe (retired party leader).Continue Reading

Air Tanzania Banned From EU Airspace Due to Safety Concerns
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Air Tanzania Banned From EU Airspace Due to Safety Concerns

Several airports have since locked Air Tanzania, dealing a severe blow to the Tanzanian national carrier that must now work overtime to regain its certification or go the wet lease way

The European Commission has announced the inclusion of Air Tanzania on the EU Air Safety List, effectively banning the airline from operating in European airspace.

The decision, made public on December 16, 2024, is based on safety concerns identified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which also led to the denial of Air Tanzania’s application for a Third Country Operator (TCO) authorisation.

The Commission did not go into the specifics of the safety infringement but industry experts suggest it is possible that the airline could have flown its Airbus A220 well past its scheduled major checks, thus violating the airworthiness directives.

“The decision to include Air Tanzania in the EU Air Safety List underscores our unwavering commitment to ensuring the highest safety standards for passengers in Europe and worldwide,” said Apostolos Tzitzikostas, EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism.

“We strongly urge Air Tanzania to take swift and decisive action to address these safety issues. I have offered the Commission’s assistance to the Tanzanian authorities in enhancing Air Tanzania’s safety performance and achieving full compliance with international aviation standards.”

Air Tanzania has a mixed fleet of modern aircraft types including Boeing 787s, 737 Max jets, and Airbus A220s.

It has been flying the B787 Dreamliner to European destinations like Frankfurt in Germany and Athens in Greece and was looking to add London to its growing list with the A220.

But the ban not only scuppers the London dream but also has seen immediate ripple effect, with several airports – including regional like Kigali and continental – locking out Air Tanzania.

Tanzania operates KLM alongside the national carrier.

The European Commission said Air Tanzania may be permitted to exercise traffic rights by using wet-leased aircraft of an air carrier which is not subject to an operating ban, provided that the relevant safety standards are complied with.

A wet lease is where an airline pays to use an aircraft with a crew, fuel, and insurance all provided by the leasing company at a fee.

Two more to the list

The EU Air Safety List, maintained to ensure passenger safety, is updated periodically based on recommendations from the EU Air Safety Committee.

The latest revision, which followed a meeting of aviation safety experts in Brussels from November 19 to 21, 2024, now includes 129 airlines.

Of these, 100 are certified in 15 states where aviation oversight is deemed insufficient, and 29 are individual airlines with significant safety deficiencies.

Alongside Air Tanzania, other banned carriers include Air Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe), Avior Airlines (Venezuela), and Iran Aseman Airlines (Iran).

Commenting on the broader implications of the list, Tzitzikostas stated, “Our priority remains the safety of every traveler who relies on air transport. We urge all affected airlines to take these bans seriously and work collaboratively with international bodies to resolve the identified issues.”

In a positive development, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has been cleared to resume operations in the EU following a four-year suspension. The ban, which began in 2020, was lifted after substantial improvements in safety performance and oversight by PIA and the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA).

“Since the TCO Authorisation was suspended, PIA and PCAA have made remarkable progress in enhancing safety standards,” noted Tzitzikostas. “This demonstrates that safety issues can be resolved through determination and cooperation.”

Another Pakistani airline, Airblue Limited, has also received EASA’s TCO authorisation.

Decisions to include or exclude airlines from the EU Air Safety List are based on rigorous evaluations of international safety standards, particularly those established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

The process involves thorough review and consultation among EU Member State aviation safety experts, with oversight from the European Commission and support from EASA.

“Where an airline currently on the list believes it complies with the required safety standards, it can request a reassessment,” explained Tzitzikostas. “Our goal is not to penalize but to ensure safety compliance globally.”

Airlines listed on the EU Air Safety List face significant challenges to their international operations, as the bans highlight shortcomings in safety oversight by their home regulatory authorities.

For Air Tanzania, this inclusion signals an urgent need for reform within Tanzania’s aviation sector to address these deficiencies and align with global standards.

The path forward will require immediate and sustained efforts to rectify safety concerns and regain access to one of the world’s most critical aviation markets.

Source: allafrica.com

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