Tanzania trains food vendors how to promote clean cooking energy instead of charcoal, firewood

MOROGORO: THE Tanzanian government is targeting food vendors across the country in its drive to expand clean cooking energy use, with leaders of the Tanzania Food Vendors Union (UMALITA) receiving training to promote alternatives to charcoal and firewood.

Conducted by the Ministry of Energy, the training held in Morogoro focuses on clean cooking technologies, safe usage and financing opportunities for acquiring clean cooking equipment.

Opening the training, Chief Geologist from the ministry’s Clean Cooking Energy Unit, Ngereja Mgejwa, said cooperation between the government and stakeholders is essential to encourage food vendors to switch to cleaner energy sources.

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Elaborating, he said that the government is implementing the 2024–2034 National Clean Cooking Energy Strategy, which aims to ensure that 80 per cent of Tanzanians use clean cooking energy by 2034.

“Reliance on firewood and charcoal could have adverse effects on people’s health, the environment and household economies, making awareness campaigns particularly important among food vendors who consume substantial amounts of cooking fuel in their businesses,” he said.

Additionally, he said the training also followed a directive issued by President Samia Suluhu Hassan on April 21, 2026, during a UMALITA conference, instructing the Ministry of Energy to develop specific strategies to promote clean cooking energy among food vendors nationwide.

Through the training, UMALITA leaders are expected to pass on the knowledge acquired to their members across the country, encouraging wider adoption of clean cooking technologies and supporting the national target of 80 per cent usage by 2034.