DAR ES SALAAM: THE government has directed all local councils to ensure that institutions, including schools, transition to clean cooking energy and phase out firewood and charcoal by the end of June. The move aims to reduce deforestation and promote environmental sustainability.
The directives were issued on Monday by Deputy Minister in the Office of the Vice-President (Union and Environment), Dr Festo Dugange, during a visit to Mabwe Tumaini Girls’ Secondary School in Kinondoni Municipal Council, Dar es Salaam.
Dr Dugange said the government is committed to environmental conservation, including a national tree-planting plan that encourages tree planting in all institutions across the country.
He expressed satisfaction with the school’s tree-planting efforts and praised Kinondoni Municipal Council for implementing clean energy solutions to combat climate change.
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“Deforestation contributes significantly to climate change by reducing rainfall and increasing flooding in treeless areas, which affects homes and farmland,” Dr Dugange said.
School headmistress Ms Selemia Miyangaa said that the school previously spent 3m/- per month on firewood for cooking.
In 2019, the school switched to gas, reducing costs to 2m/- per month, while also benefiting the environment by reducing tree cutting. Ms Miyangaa noted that using gas not only cooks food efficiently but also supports environmental protection.
The government has already launched the National Strategy for Clean Cooking Energy Use (2024–2034), which aims for 80 per cent of Tanzanians to adopt clean cooking energy, including gas, electricity and other sources, by 2034.