Tanzanians moves to tackle mindsets hindering the adoption of clean cooking technologies

ZANZIBAR: THE Minister for Energy, Deogratius Ndejembi has urged Tanzanians to tackle mindsets that hinder the adoption of clean cooking technologies as the country is set to achieve universal access to affordable and sustainable clean cooking energy.

The minister made the call during a Clean Cooking Energy Dialogue organised by the Mwanamke Initiatives Foundation (MIF) in Kizimkazi, South Unguja, Zanzibar which brought together government officials, private-sector players, development partners, financial institutions, technology experts, researchers and civil society organisations to discuss ways of accelerating access to sustainable and affordable clean cooking energy for households and institutions.

Speaking at the dialogue, Mr Ndejembi said expanding clean cooking technologies alone would not be enough if efforts were not made to change traditions, customs and attitudes that discourage people from adopting cleaner alternatives.

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“Despite having a clean cooking energy strategy, if we do not invest in changing our traditions and customs, we will find ourselves back where we started. As we promote the use of technology, we must also invest in changing Tanzanians’ attitudes towards clean cooking energy,” he said.

Elaborting, he stated that the transition required concerted efforts by the government, institutions and communities to remove social and cultural barriers that could slow the shift towards clean cooking.

Moreover, he also urged ministry officials, institutions and private-sector stakeholders to prioritise a mix of clean cooking technologies based on resources available in different areas while citing areas with abundant livestock manure as an example, saying the resource could be used to produce biogas and expand access to clean cooking energy.

Furthermore, he commended President Samia Suluhu Hassan for investments in clean cooking energy, saying Tanzania has increasingly demonstrated that clean cooking was not merely a household issue.

According to the minister, the transition has  wider implications for health, the environment, the economy, gender equality, education and sustainable development, making it a critical national development priority.