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Dar es Salaam. Tanzania is gearing up for a clean energy transformation as ethanol emerges as a homegrown solution to the country’s long-standing dependence on charcoal and firewood for cooking.

The initiative, spearheaded by Greenergy Climate (Tz), is being positioned as a cornerstone of the government’s plan to ensure 80 percent access to clean cooking energy by 2034. For decades, over 90 per cent of Tanzanian households have relied on biomass fuels, mainly charcoal and firewood, for their daily cooking needs. This dependence has come at a heavy cost, both to the environment and public health.

The country lost about 3.9 million hectares of forest between 2010 and 2020 due to unsustainable charcoal production, while indoor air pollution caused by smoke from traditional fuels continues to claim more than 33,000 lives annually.

Ethanol is now being touted as a sustainable, affordable, and cleaner alternative capable of transforming Tanzania’s cooking landscape while improving health and creating rural jobs. According to Head of Strategy and Business Development at Greenergy Climate (Tz), Mohammed Kadhi, yesterday, he told The Citizen, ethanol offers multiple benefits.

“It provides a sustainable, affordable and cleaner alternative that can transform Tanzania’s cooking landscape while improving health and creating rural jobs,” he said. Unlike charcoal, ethanol burns without smoke or soot, and can be produced locally from crops such as cassava, maize, sugarcane molasses, and sorghum.

1 For decades, over 90 per cent of Tanzanian households have relied on biomass fuels, mainly charcoal and firewood, for their daily cooking needs. The approach, described as a ‘farm-to-kitchen fuel model’, aims to promote rural industrialisation through the establishment of 20 distilleries across various regions, each producing up to 50,000 litres of ethanol per day.

The ethanol stoves designed for this initiative are durable, efficient, and comparable to LPG stoves, but more affordable. A litre of ethanol, retailing at around Sh3,000, can cook three meals for two days, making it cheaper and safer than charcoal, whose prices have continued to rise sharply.

Mr Kadhi noted that the model presents a win-win solution for both households and the environment. “It saves money, supports farmers, and keeps energy spending within the local economy,” he explained.

Beyond its environmental benefits, the ethanol initiative is expected to generate tens of thousands of jobs across the agricultural, manufacturing, and distribution sectors. Each distillery will employ plant operators, engineers, logistics coordinators, and quality control specialists, while local assembly plants for ethanol stoves will create more opportunities for technicians and packaging workers.

In addition, smallholder farmers are set to benefit from stable and predictable incomes through structured supply chains that link cooperatives to processing centres and distilleries. Women and youth are expected to be among the key beneficiaries, as they will be directly integrated into the ethanol value chain, from farming and transport to retail.

Greenergy Climate estimates that once fully scaled, ethanol production could reach 300 million litres per year, directly benefiting at least 10 million Tanzanians. “The ripple effects will be felt across every sector, from agriculture and transport to retail and finance,” said Mr Kadhi.

The ethanol drive also carries implications for national energy security. With Tanzania importing over 403,000 tonnes of LPG in the 2023/24 fiscal year, at a cost of about $250 million in foreign exchange, the shift to locally produced ethanol is expected to reduce reliance on imported fuels.

Ethanol can be stored safely and easily, allowing the country to maintain strategic reserves and shield households from global fuel price shocks. The infrastructure being developed for ethanol production could later support blending with petrol, further strengthening Tanzania’s energy independence.

Environmentalists have described the ethanol initiative as a lifeline for the country’s threatened forests. Maintaining the current trajectory of charcoal and firewood use could result in the loss of five million acres of forest over the next decade, an area larger than the combined size of Dar es Salaam and Mtwara regions.

In contrast, adopting ethanol on a large scale could save these forests, prevent more than 300,000 premature deaths, and significantly cut national carbon emissions. “This is not just about cooking; it’s about protecting lives, forests, and our climate,” Mr Kadhi said, calling for greater collaboration between the government, investors, and civil society.

Greenergy Climate (Tz) Ltd is urging the government to integrate ethanol into national clean cooking policies and establish a Tanzania National Ethanol Working Group to guide coordination and investment. The company is also seeking partnerships with NGOs, financial institutions, and universities to promote consumer awareness, financing, and research.

According to Mr Kadhi, success will depend on a collective national effort. “The clean cooking revolution requires everyone, farmers, investors, households, and policymakers, to play their part,” he emphasised.

With charcoal prices rising, forests shrinking, and public health at risk, the ethanol revolution represents not just a cleaner way to cook, but a chance for Tanzania to redefine its energy future. .

Raila Odinga Junior assumed leadership of the Odinga home following a traditional ceremony held at the family’s residence in Bondo on Thursday. The event, led by his uncle Dr Oburu Oginga, marked a significant cultural milestone for the family, a formal passing of authority and responsibility within the household, following the burial of the late Raila Odinga.

Dr Oginga, the elder brother of the late Raila, said the day’s ceremony was deeply rooted in Luo traditions that guide family transitions after the death of a patriarch. He emphasised that this was not a political event but a customary handover of domestic leadership and blessings.

“The seat of power in this home is now with Junior, together with his mother. The mum will be there to give him all the advice he needs, but he must stand firm.

He must stand firm and lead the home in our culture,” he said. He explained that while Junior would now head the household, the larger Odinga family remained under his own cultural authority as the family patriarch.

“This is not political leadership, family. The larger Odinga family, which I chair and lead, just as his father was when it came to cultural leadership,” he said.

According to Luo customs, chieng’ mar ang’wen (the fourth day) after burial marks the formal end of the mourning period. On this day, the Odinga family gathered to perform the traditional rites that signalled the closure of mourning for their departed kin.

“My brother was buried on Sunday last week,” explained Dr Oburu Oginga. “Counting from Sunday to last night makes four nights.

In our culture, the fourth day is when the funeral officially ends. That is when daughters married elsewhere return to their homes, and sons who have been here during mourning are allowed to go back to their families.

” Dr Oginga emphasised that the Odingas were following the same traditions that had been performed when their patriarch, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, was laid to rest. “We do not disregard culture,” he said.

“Even in the Bible, Isaac blessed his sons Jacob and Esau. The same applies in our customs.

Blessings and ceremonies to pass authority have always been part of both our faith and our culture.” Liedo, the traditional head-shaving ritual, commenced.

According to elders, the act of shaving, though simple in appearance, carries immense spiritual significance. It symbolises cleansing, renewal, and the transition from mourning to continuity: the restoration of life’s balance after death has passed through a home.

Raila Junior, the younger son of the former Premier and now the family’s eldest surviving male, was the focus of this rite. According to custom, he was to take up the mantle of leadership as the new head of the family.

“Junior will take the leadership of the family and all the instruments of power as a sign of his new role,” Dr Oginga declared. Before being handed the symbols of authority, a spear and traditional attire, Junior underwent the Liedo.

His elder aunt placed a mark on his head to symbolise that she was the one carrying out the rite. She then ushered the barber to complete the shaving.

The hum of the shaving machine replaced the old rasp of razors, a modern echo of an ancient sound. When the shaving was done, Junior was dressed in traditional attire, his hands gripping the spear that signified strength and responsibility.

Dr Oginga noted that a mark would also be placed on Mama Ida Odinga’s head, symbolically indicating that she, too, had been cleansed through the ritual. “In our culture, even the widow’s cleansing is part of renewal.

It allows life to move forward without breaking the bond of respect to the departed,” he said. Traditionally, the shaving was a far more elaborate ceremony carried out in stages.

Elders recall that razors were once drawn across the scalps of widows and children first, followed by other mourners later. “In the old days, you could hear the scrape of blades at dawn,” said Mr John Akumu, an elder from Alego.

“That sound told the village that mourning had begun. Today, people do it once, if at all, sometimes just a symbolic patch at the back.

” Following the ceremony, another ritual unfolded: the symbolic dispersal of mourners. Relatives began to leave the homestead one by one, the eldest first and the youngest last.

This gradual departure represented grief loosening its grip on the family. Each farewell was not only a goodbye but also an affirmation that life must continue.

In the days that followed, relatives, especially sisters-in-law and aunts, would return to the homestead carrying food. They would cook and share a meal with the widow and her children, a ritual known as yao dhoot, literally meaning “opening the door.

” “It was about life continuing,” explained Jane Owiti, a widow from Gem. “After death closes a door, yao dhoot opens it again.

The meal brings warmth back into the home and welcomes normal life to return.” Another essential ritual, tero chola, would follow soon after.

This was the widow’s visit to her birthplace before she could be inherited, a practice deeply embedded in Luo widowhood customs. During this visit, a goat would be slaughtered, and its meat shared between the widow and her parents.

The act reaffirmed her connection to her lineage before she returned to her homestead to begin life anew with her chosen inheritor. .

Sometimes, all it takes for men to bond is a glass of bourbon or a shared passion for a football team. For Italian friends Paolo Paolini and Fabio Santoni, it was their mutual love for hiking that cemented their friendship.

When Paolini arrived in Tanzania in August 2024, he discovered that Fabio had already climbed Mount Meru. Soon after, they began planning to conquer Mount Kilimanjaro together.

By February 2025, their plan had taken shape, and they contacted a specialist company to organise the climb. Paolini, an active man who keeps himself in good physical form, intensified his training regimen.

His preparation included playing football twice a week and paddling every weekend. “The days I didn’t spend on the pitch, I was in the gym, following a specific programme prepared by Nino, one of my elder sons,” he said.

Beyond physical readiness, Paolini found mental preparation to be even more crucial. As it is impossible to simulate the high altitude or predict how the body will react at over 4,000 metres above sea level, he said, “Mentally, I was going through different scenarios, focusing on reaching the summit, but none of these scenarios had the option of failure.

” Scaling the world’s highest free-standing mountain demands both respect and awareness of the challenge that lies ahead. Paolini was born in Switzerland, and at the age of three, his father placed him on skis and told him to follow.

“I grew up near the Swiss Alps and also in my region in Italy–Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, in the north-eastern part close to Austria and Slovenia–which has beautiful landscapes and mountains. I would say that I just love everything that has to do with mountains,” he said.

Hiking, to him, is deeply sentimental–it means spending quality time with family and friends. While Kilimanjaro was a significant challenge, Paolini regarded it as a “normal” hike for someone raised among snowy peaks.

“To me, hiking means relaxing, enjoying nature, and recovering from the usual stress–and, if possible, rewarding myself with delicious food and an ice-cold beer afterwards,” he added with a laugh. Nevertheless, climbing Kilimanjaro allows no comfort.

“No shower, very little contact with family and friends for seven days. But more or less, you are prepared for it,” he noted.

For him, the most challenging part was not knowing whether mountain sickness would affect him. “There are many possible symptoms, some of which can be severe,” he said.

“Luckily, I only had headaches on the second and third day.” During the final 150-metre stretch from Stella Point to Uhuru Peak, Paolini struggled slightly with shortness of breath, but adrenaline–and the sight of the summit so close–pushed him through the final steps.

“I feel blessed and proud to have reached the top of Africa with my buddies, and especially with my son Luis,” he said. He proved to himself that with the right physical and mental preparation, one can go beyond their limits.

“But I think, in general, my biggest life challenge is to give a proper education to our children and do everything I can to see them happy,” he reflected. Paolini finds time for holidays whenever schedules align.

“It’s all about time management,” he said, adding that compromises with his wife and family make it possible. Married for 25 years, he knows his spouse very well, and they both understand each other’s needs.

He cherishes their alone time together. “For example, a fixed point in our daily schedule is the coffee we take together every single day when I return from work.

It’s just 30 minutes, but this time belongs only to us. Or the daily walks with our dogs every morning at 6.

00 a.m.

This early morning exercise and chat are good for our bodies and souls,” he elaborated. For Santoni, climbing Kilimanjaro was an adventurous goal he set before moving to Tanzania for work.

“I was thinking with my wife about reaching the summit of this huge and famous mountain before starting work in Tanzania,” he recalled. When he first met Paolini at an event in Dar es Salaam, they quickly realised they shared the same ambition.

To prepare, Santoni walked several times over medium distances–between 12 and 14 kilometres–along the seaside promenades in Dar es Salaam. He also ran outdoors for about 10 kilometres once or twice a week and trained on the treadmill at the gym.

His passion for trekking began years earlier in Italy when he explored routes in the Tuscan Apennines with friends. He realised that reaching mountain summits gave him a profound sense of freedom, and the grandeur of nature always rewarded him with a special gift each time he reached the top.

During his Kilimanjaro ascent, Santoni encountered difficult moments due to the altitude. The most challenging part, he said, was climbing at night as they neared Stella Point (5,756 metres).

“I started feeling dizzy, my legs were very weak, and I was breathing heavily. It was a kind of mountain sickness, as climbers call it,” he said.

Despite his struggle, he persevered. Slowly but surely–polepole, as Tanzanian guides often advise–he reached the summit.

“My greatest strength during the ascent was my mind and soul,” he said. Santoni does not view the climb as a conquest of Africa’s highest mountain but rather as overcoming a personal challenge.

He pushed his body and endurance to the limit in conditions he had never experienced before, especially at such altitude. To him, travel is never a waste of money or time.

“It’s one of the best investments you can make in yourself. I will never stop travelling,” he said.

Having moved to Tanzania more than a year ago, this is Santoni’s first time in Africa. Initially, everything was very different from Italy and Europe, but he soon grew fond of life in Dar es Salaam.

“The view of the sea–the Indian Ocean–makes me feel good and peaceful,” he said. Since his arrival, he has visited Arusha, Iringa, Moshi, Morogoro, and Zanzibar.

“I’ve been on exciting safaris to Serengeti, Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Mikumi, and Ruaha. I also climbed Mount Meru,” he said proudly.

These travels have revealed to him that Tanzania is an extraordinary and vast country, blessed with abundant nature and wildlife. “People here are always smiley and friendly,” he observed.

Such experiences have taught him that happiness often comes from simplicity. “People can live in an easy way and still be happy,” he said.

However, being far from home sometimes leaves him nostalgic. “Being abroad for work offers great opportunities, but there are also things about normal life in your home country that you miss–like being with your family or friends,” he admitted.

“My remedy is to play padel as much as possible,” he added with a grin. Above all, he recommends a Tanzanian safari to anyone seeking an unforgettable encounter with nature.

“I would definitely tell my friends and family to come, because it’s an amazing experience with nature and animals that you’ll never forget,” he said. “Even though I’ve just started going on safari here, I think Tanzania is one of the best places in Africa to experience wildlife, beautiful landscapes, and excellent service from expert and knowledgeable guides,” he affirmed.

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Dar es Salaam. For many Tanzanians, weekends are a time to unwind at nightclubs, bars, and open-air concerts where lively music and energetic performances set the tone.

However, experts are warning that the same music that brings joy and excitement could also be inflicting gradual and irreversible damage to hearing. In 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the Make Listening Safe initiative, raising alarm over the growing number of young people exposed to dangerously high sound levels.

The agency estimates that 1.1 billion young people worldwide are at risk of permanent hearing loss from loud recreational sounds — including concerts, clubs, and personal earphones.

Such exposure can cause permanent hearing loss and tinnitus — a persistent ringing in the ears — both of which can seriously affect communication, learning, and employment, leading to social isolation and a diminished quality of life. Speaking to The Citizen, event promoter Haji Balou admitted that awareness of safe sound levels remains low within the local entertainment industry.

“We usually work with sound engineers, but honestly, the focus has always been on creating energy and excitement,” he said. He added that discussions about decibel limits or hearing safety are rare.

“Maybe it’s time we start taking it more seriously,” he said.Event organiser Mjuni Jumanne said fan expectations also contribute to the problem.

“People think a loud concert means a great show. We need to strike a balance between sound quality and safety,” he said.

Some concert-goers share similar concerns. Salma Jumanne, a regular at live shows, said she can hardly imagine a concert without the booming bass that shakes the crowd.

“People come to concerts to feel the music, but sometimes it’s too loud. Maybe organisers could invest in better sound systems instead of simply turning the volume down,” she suggested.

Medical expert Dr Magnus Msango explained that damage can occur not only at concerts but also through everyday earphone use. “Several factors determine the risk — how long you’re exposed, how close you are to the sound, and your personal hearing sensitivity.

Even prolonged exposure to traffic noise can be harmful,” he said. He added that many Tanzanian nightclubs exceed safe sound limits and urged stakeholders to promote hearing protection.

“Some clubs play music so loud you can hear it clearly from outside. Imagine the impact on those inside,” he warned.

On the technology front, tech expert Dominick Dismas suggested that music lovers use sound-meter apps such as NIOSH SLM or Decibel X to monitor noise levels around them. “These apps can help you know how loud it is and when to protect your ears.

Moving a few metres away from speakers or taking short breaks can also make a big difference,” he advised. As Tanzania’s music scene continues to thrive, experts stress the importance of combining entertainment with awareness — ensuring that fans can enjoy the rhythm of the night without sacrificing their hearing.

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Dar es Salaam. The High Court of Tanzania, Dar es Salaam Sub-Registry, has rejected a bail application filed by the Chairperson of the opposition party Chadema, Tundu Lissu, in his ongoing treason case.

Lissu made the application on October 24, 2025 after the prosecution requested an adjournment of the proceedings due to the absence of a witness. Earlier, the prosecution had asked the court to postpone the hearing until November 3, 2025 stating that their witnesses were unavailable for the day.

The case, which is being heard by a three-judge panel led by the Principal Judge of the High Court in Iringa, Judge Dunstan Ndunguru and assisted by Judges James Karayemaha and Ferdinand Kiwonde, was scheduled to continue on Friday. However, the prosecution informed the court that the next witnesses were expected to testify based on exhibits that had been ruled inadmissible on October 22 and 23, 2025. The excluded exhibits included data storage devices — a flash drive and a memory card — containing video footage of a speech by Lissu, which the prosecution alleged contained statements inciting rebellion against the government.

Chief State Attorney Lenatus Mkude told the court that since it was the final day of the current hearing session, they were seeking an adjournment under Section 302 of the Criminal Procedure Act (CPA) until November 3, 2025 in line with the official case schedule. Lissu, however, strongly opposed the request, arguing that the prosecution had failed to present valid grounds for adjournment.

He urged the court to compel the prosecution to produce its witness, insisting that without the excluded exhibits, the case had effectively collapsed and no further evidence existed to substantiate the charges. He further requested that if the court agreed to the adjournment, it should grant him bail under Section 302(2) of the CPA.

In response, Chief State Attorneys Mkude and Nassoro Katuga objected to the bail plea, arguing that the offence of treason is non-bailable under Tanzanian law. Delivering his ruling, Judge Ndunguru upheld the prosecution’s motion, stating that their reasons for seeking adjournment were valid and lawful.

He added that while the section cited by Lissu provides for bail under certain conditions, the current circumstances did not meet those criteria, given that the postponement request was legally justified and the charge itself was non-bailable. “Since today marks the end of this court session, the case is hereby adjourned until November 3, 2025 as indicated in the court’s cause list,” Judge Ndunguru declared.

Following the decision, Lissu was returned to remand custody, marking his 202nd day in detention since his arrest on April 9, 2025 when the case was first filed. .