Majaliwa pushes clean cooking, election readiness as Parliament approves budget
What you need to know:
- The government has intensified efforts to shift Tanzanians towards clean energy by 2033.
Dar es Salaam. Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa on Tuesday emphasised Tanzania’s strong focus on clean cooking energy and peaceful election preparations as Parliament approved a Sh782.1 billion budget for his office and related institutions.
Speaking during the budget wind-up, Mr Majaliwa said the government has intensified efforts to shift Tanzanians towards clean energy by 2033.
“We started by encouraging institutions, but now we are targeting individuals,” he said. “By 2033, we aim for 80 percent of Tanzanians to use clean cooking energy.”
He reminded all stakeholders, government institutions, private sector, regional administrations, and the public, to join the campaign.
“I want to stress that all institutions preparing food for more than 100 people must switch to clean energy,” he said.
He also directed that all revenues from forest harvesting, transportation, and trade be directed towards environmental conservation and the clean cooking agenda.
“This is not just about energy, it’s about our health, our environment, and our future,” he added.
The Prime Minister also used the platform to talk about preparations for the upcoming general election, expected later this year.
He said the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) had already completed the first phase of voter registration updates in all 31 regions.
“I commend Tanzanians for turning up in large numbers to update their details,” he said.
He announced that the second phase of registration would take place in May. This will include public display of voter details on noticeboards for verification.
Mr Majaliwa said the government had also finalised preparations for presidential, parliamentary, and councillor elections.
“We now have the 2025 election code of ethics and guidelines ready,” he said. “The government will ensure peace, transparency, and fairness during the entire election process.”
Responding to concerns raised by lawmakers, Mr Majaliwa spoke on the impact of heavy El Niño rains and Cyclone Hidaya, which caused loss of lives and destruction of infrastructure.
“The government has taken several steps to restore damaged infrastructure so that services can resume,” he said.
He cited the construction of the new Somanga Bridge, 60 metres long, and a 1.7-kilometre access road as key recovery projects.
“The project is 38 percent complete and is on track for completion by September 2025,” he said.
The Prime Minister assured that more damaged infrastructure will be repaired to restore normalcy in affected areas.
The Parliament’s approval of the Sh782.1 billion budget marked another step in the government’s mission to ensure development and environmental protection.
