‘President deserves honour on clean cooking drive’

DODOMA: NATIONAL Assembly Speaker Dr Tulia Ackson has stated that President Samia Suluhu Hassan deserves honour over her tireless efforts within and outside the country in mobilising the use of clean cooking energy.

“She really deserves the awards considering her efforts to ensure Tanzanians and Africans at large are protected from harmful types of cooking energy,” she pointed out.

She made the statement over the weekend in an event organised by the Women Members of Parliament (MPs) in collaboration with the Oryx Gas Tanzania Limited (OGTL) to reflect on the contributions of President Samia on encouraging the use of clean cooking in Africa, particularly Tanzania.

The event held in Dodoma was part of commemorations to mark the World Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Day marked annually on 7th June to raise awareness on the benefits of using clean cooking energy worldwide.

The Women MPs and the OGTL used the platform to honour President Samia in the drive, where in the course; Dr Tulia received the award on her behalf. She added: “As President Samia is being given the award, she actually deserves it. The President, being the champion of clean cooking campaign, had even directed the government to take measures in this area and already there is a National Clean Cooking Strategy that spans from 2024 to 2034 in attaining the goal.” With 4. 6tri/- as a strategy, it envisions to raise awareness in the public so that people use clean cooking energy as projected that by 2034, 80 per cent of the population will be using it.

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Elaborating, she noted that Dr Samia collective efforts in clean cooking campaign make her deserve honour.

She said that Africa faces challenges of widespread use of harmful cooking energy where 80 per cent of them rely on traditional cooking methods.

That comes with the background that at least 33,024 people, mostly women, die annually in Tanzania from breathing smoke caused by solid fuels for cooking, including charcoal and firewood.

Apart from deaths, the unclean cooking fuelled by charcoal and firewood search has been causing environmental degradation, especially when people cut trees and burn charcoal for cooking.

In ensuring that clean cooking campaign becomes successful in the country, President Samia has effectively engaged stakeholders, including the OGTL.

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“I am happy to see Women MPs partnering with the OGTL to support the efforts and honour the President in this matter,” further pointed out the Speaker.

On his part, OGTL’s Managing Director Benoit Araman said the award to President Samia was part of supporting her efforts in advocating for clean cooking drive.

Mr Araman said the company has so far donated 35000 gas cylinders and stoves to different social groups in the country.