Electricity prices remain the same for 10 years

ZANZIBAR: DESPITE the rise in the exchange rate of the Tanzanian shilling against the US dollar, the Zanzibar government has not increased the price of electricity, which has remained at 266/- per unit since 2014, when the exchange rate was 978/- to the US dollar.

“The current exchange rate is about 2,800/- per US dollar, but our electricity price for domestic use remains at 266/-,” said the Minister for Water, Energy, and Minerals, Mr Shaibu Hassan Kaduara in the House of Representatives.

He was responding to questions from backbenchers in the House of Representatives who inquired about potential increases in electricity prices.

Mr Kaduara said despite rising costs for electrical equipment such as poles, transformers, and meters, the government under President Hussein Mwinyi has shown its commitment to the people by maintaining the 266/- per unit price.

Furthermore, Mr Kaduara noted that the government has also reduced the connection fee for new customers, lowering it from 464,000/- to 200,000/-.

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He added that the cost of meters has been decreased to encourage more people to access electricity