Mwanubi village electrification set to boost economic growth

SHINYANGA: MWANUBI Village in Shinyanga Region is now connected to electricity after Energy Minister Deogratius Ndejembi switched on power, boosting hopes for economic growth.

Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, Ndejembi said the initiative demonstrates the government’s commitment to expanding access to reliable energy, which is essential to driving social and economic development across the country.

He said the electrification forms part of the government’s broader plan to ensure all villages in the country are connected to electricity, mainly through the Rural Energy Agency (REA), to improve livelihoods and support inclusive growth.

The Minister urged residents to take advantage of the subsidised electricity connection fee of 27,000/- to expand small businesses and add value to agricultural produce.

He also directed REA and contractors to speed up grid extension to remaining unserved areas, with priority given to public institutions such as schools and health centres.

Shinyanga Regional Commissioner Mboni Mhita said the project demonstrates the government’s commitment to improving living standards in rural communities.

A representative of the REA Director General, Herini Mhina, said the electrification initiative is key to unlocking economic potential and attracting investment in rural areas.

REA reaffirmed its commitment to closely supervise rural electrification projects to ensure they deliver expected benefits, including increased productivity and improved livelihoods.

Residents welcomed the development, noting that reliable electricity will stimulate small-scale businesses and improve delivery of social services.

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The Mwanubi project is part of ongoing nationwide efforts to expand access to affordable and reliable energy, particularly in rural areas, in line with the government’s goal of electrifying all villages.

REA has delivered an exceptionally strong performance in recent years, successfully driving a 96 per cent to 100 per cent grid connection rate among mainland villages and raising the overall rural electrification rate beyond 72 per cent.

Operating under the Ministry of Energy, REA has effectively managed a budget exceeding 4 tri/- to systematically bridge the urban-rural energy gap. Out of 12,318 official villages in mainland Tanzania, REA has successfully brought grid power infrastructure to virtually all of them, hitting a near-universal village connection rate.

On hamlet extension, with village centres electrified, REA has shifted its primary focus to sub-village hamlets. Over 40,000 out of 64,359 hamlets (roughly 62 per cent) have been energised.

On new customer connections, REA has established over 1,082,669 direct new consumer connections across rural households, small-scale enterprises and local institutions.