Zanzibar media called to champion clean cooking shift

ZANZIBAR: JOURNALISTS in Zanzibar have been urged to leverage their platforms, including social media, newspapers, radio, and television, to raise public awareness on the importance of adopting clean energy.

The call was made by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water, Energy and Minerals, Joseph Kilangi, while opening a Media Houses Clean Cooking Awareness Workshop in Zanzibar.

“Journalists have a powerful role and the capacity to educate communities on the use of clean energy such as electricity and gas, and to encourage a shift away from firewood and charcoal,” he said.

Mr Kilangi noted that both the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar and the Union Government are taking significant steps to promote the use of clean and safe energy.

He added that Africa and the global community recognise President Samia Suluhu Hassan as a leading champion of clean cooking energy initiatives. He said that while Zanzibar is making progress through policy and regulatory reforms, more public awareness remains essential.

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The government has already developed the 2025 Energy Policy and is preparing to support legislation to strengthen the sector.

In addition, Value Added Tax (VAT) has been removed on gas cylinders to make clean cooking fuel more affordable for households. Introducing the objectives of the workshop, Monitoring and Programme Specialist at the United Nations Capital Development Fund, Prisca Mgomberi, said the training aims to equip journalists with the knowledge and tools needed to effectively promote clean and safe energy use.

She explained that the clean cooking awareness project is currently being implemented in North Unguja and North Pemba, where studies indicate high poverty levels often linked to environmental degradation.

The initiative seeks to empower communities with sustainable energy solutions while addressing both economic and environmental challenges.