Zambia Rea Team Visits Chamwino to Learn From Tanzania's Rural Electrification Success

DODOMA, Tanzania – A high-level delegation from Zambia's Rural Electrification Authority (REA), headed by its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Alex Mbumba, is currently undertaking a comprehensive study tour in Tanzania. The visit, which commenced in Dodoma, is specifically designed to facilitate a direct learning experience from Tanzania's widely acclaimed achievements in expanding electricity access to its rural populace. The Zambian team's primary objective is to understand the operational frameworks, policy interventions, and innovative funding mechanisms that have propelled Tanzania's rural electrification drive. Tanzania, through its own Rural Energy Agency (REA) and the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO), has made significant strides in connecting remote communities to the national grid, often employing a mix of grid extension, mini-grids, and standalone off-grid solutions, including solar home systems. This multi-pronged approach has been instrumental in increasing energy access rates, thereby fostering economic development and improving living standards in previously underserved areas. Mr. Mbumba emphasised the importance of this exchange, stating that Zambia is keen to adapt successful models to its unique context. Zambia's rural electrification efforts, while ongoing, face similar challenges to those encountered by Tanzania, such as vast geographical distances, low population densities in some areas, and the need for sustainable financing. Learning about Tanzania's experiences in project planning, community engagement, technology selection, and regulatory support is expected to provide valuable lessons that can be integrated into Zambia’s national rural electrification strategy. Experts suggest that key areas of interest for the Zambian delegation would likely include Tanzania's public-private partnership models, its tariff structures for rural consumers, and its strategies for mobilising both domestic and international financing for large-scale in