CCM gives clean cooking campaign fresh impetus
KILIMANJARO: THE ruling party’s Secretary General, Dr Emmanuel Nchimbi has asked the public to support President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan’s effort to promote the use of clean energy as a way of conserving environment and protecting nature.
He said clean energy also is also crucial in protecting women health, a group that is often responsible for household cooking.
He said that the government, under President Samia’s leadership, has prioritised the promotion of clean cooking energy to replace the use of traditional biomass fuels like charcoal and firewood that have been degrading the environment, causing respiratory and sight related diseases.
He urged the public to embrace the clean cooking energy transition and cooperate with he government in safeguarding environment and promoting the well-being of all citizens. Dr Nchimbi echoed the agenda on Wednesday at a public rally held at the Moshi Bus Station in Kilimanjaro Region.
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“The Head of State is committed to bringing changes, she is strongly campaigning for the use of clean energy,” said Dr Nchimbi.
He added: “The President has good intention, the use of clean energy will help to keep our health well and protect environment including curbing deforestation,” Dr Nchimbi said due to the use of charcoal and firewood some Tanzanians were falsely accused of witchcraft since their eyes turned red as a result of firewood and charcoal smoke.
He said a number of innocent aged women were attacked and killed due to such a misconception.
“The effects of cooking with charcoal and firewood harm people’s lungs and eyes. We had some cases where elderly women were attacked and killed because their eyes had turned red, no one was aware of the causes of that, the attackers accused them of witchcraft, which was not true,” he noted.
Dr Nchimbi asked the residents of Kilimanjaro and Tanzanians in general to protect Mountain Kilimanjaro and its surroundings by planting trees and avoiding setting fire on it.
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“I would like to ask you to keep protecting the mountain, this is the pride of Tanzania and Africa at large, I am glad that fire incidents have gone down, let’s keep on doing a good job,” he said.
On his part, Member of Parliament for Moshi Urban, Priscus Tarimo commended President Samia for implementing various development projects in the region, ranging from health and availing modern medical equipment, improving education, improvement in the tourism sector by reducing the cost of licensing tour operators and tour guides as well as pushing for implementation of clean cooking energy.
Last month, President Samia launched the National Clean Cooking Energy Strategy, calling upon the private sector to invest massively in the sector, including technology, to enable every citizen to easily access clean cooking energy.
