Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE Deputy Minister for Energy, Judith Kapinga, has said that the cost of connecting electricity to village areas is 27,000/-, while for township areas is 320,960/-.
Kapinga informed the National Assembly yesterday while responding to a question by Bukene Member of Parliament Selemani Zedi, (CCM) who sought clarification on why areas in Bukene and Itobo are not being connected to electricity at the cost of 27,000/-.
Ms Kapinga said that Bukene and Itobo are township villages whose cost of connecting electricity is 320,960/-.
She said the government is continuing to assess whether there is a possibility of making improvements based on the evaluations that have been carried out.
Furthermore, Ms Kapinga said that she has instructed the Regional Manager for Tabora and the District Manager for Nzega to carry out a thorough assessment to provide comprehensive answers to resolve the existing confusion regarding the two areas Bukene and Itobo.
In response to a question from Kilombero MP, Abubakari Asenga, who inquired why the areas of Katinduka are still paying 360,960/- for electricity connection while they are village areas, Kapinga explained that village areas are connected to electricity at 27,000/- because the government and donors are providing funds for the implementation of rural electrification projects.
She stressed that not every area qualifies for connection at 27,000/- , and the area of Katinduka is a township area.
Responding to a question from Special Seats MP, Anatropia Theonest (CCM) who wanted to know when the remaining villages in Kyerwa, including Buganza and Nyarigongo, will be connected to electricity, Ms Kapinga said that electricity has already reached the headquarters of the villages in Kyerwa, and that the contractor is continuing work on an additional two kilometres.
Recently Director of Rural Energy at the Rural Energy Agency (REA), Engineer Jones Olotu said that Tanzania has achieved a significant milestone in electrification, connecting 78.4 per cent of its population to electricity.
Eng Olotu said this represents a 15 per cent increase in electrification rates over the past five years, driven in part by the government’s ambitious Rural Electrification Programme.
While all villages on the mainland now have access to electricity, significant challenges remain in reaching hamlets.
“Currently, only 52.3 per cent of hamlets are electrified, leaving millions of Tanzanians without reliable power. The government aims to address this through a combination of grid extensions, off-grid solutions like solar power, and public-private partnerships,” he said.
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