Joseph Isangura
The Government has called on media organisations across Tanzania to play a leading role in accelerating the adoption of clean cooking energy, saying journalists are critical partners in achieving the national target of ensuring 80 percent of Tanzanians use clean cooking energy by 2034.
The appeal was made by Deputy Minister for Energy Salome Makamba during the opening of a media workshop on the national clean cooking campaign in Morogoro, where journalists, government communication officers and development partners gathered to strengthen public awareness efforts.
Makamba said the media possesses unmatched influence in shaping public opinion and changing behaviour through accurate reporting, educational programmes and feature stories that explain the economic, health and environmental benefits of clean cooking technologies.
She noted that despite ongoing government initiatives, only 28 percent of Tanzanians currently use clean cooking energy, far below the target outlined in the National Clean Cooking Energy Strategy 2024–2034.
“Journalists communicate directly with citizens. When they champion the clean cooking agenda, the message reaches millions of Tanzanians and helps accelerate behavioural change,” Makamba said.
She stressed that reliable and evidence-based reporting is essential in combating misinformation, which continues to slow the adoption of clean cooking technologies in many communities.
According to Makamba, increasing the use of clean cooking energy will not only reduce dependence on firewood and charcoal but will also improve public health by reducing indoor air pollution, protect forests, create employment opportunities for young people and contribute to gender equality by easing the burden traditionally carried by women and girls in collecting firewood.
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She added that the transition to clean cooking is a key component of Tanzania’s broader climate action and sustainable development agenda.
Speaking at the workshop, United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) Project Manager Imanuel Muro said a four-year programme funded by the European Union with €19.4 million has played a significant role in increasing awareness and expanding access to clean cooking solutions across the country.
Muro said successful adoption depends on providing communities with practical information tailored to local realities, noting that energy technologies, household incomes and cooking needs differ from one region to another.
He explained that public education campaigns should address persistent misconceptions surrounding clean cooking technologies, particularly the belief that cooking with electricity is always more expensive than using liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
“We need communication campaigns that remove fear and misinformation. Many people still believe electric cooking is always more expensive than LPG, which is not necessarily true in every situation,” Muro said.
Meanwhile, Director of the Clean Cooking Campaign at the Ministry of Energy, Nolasco Mlay, said the ministry organised the workshop to strengthen collaboration between journalists, government communicators and development partners so that the public receives accurate, consistent and evidence-based information.
He said the initiative forms part of the government’s communication strategy to increase public understanding of clean cooking technologies and encourage more households to adopt safer and environmentally friendly energy sources.
The government believes that with stronger media engagement and coordinated public education campaigns, Tanzania can significantly increase the adoption of clean cooking energy, reduce environmental degradation and move closer to achieving its national development and climate goals by 2034.
