What changed
Vice President Deogratius Ndejembi said Tanzania now has nine million electricity customers, with TANESCO serving six million and the Rural Energy Agency three million. Speaking in Dar es Salaam on October 2, he said World Bank statistics show Tanzania leads Africa in connecting citizens to electricity.
The announcement came as TANESCO and CRDB Bank signed a financing scheme that will initially target 500,000 rural customers each year. CRDB will cover the 27,000-shilling connection fee for eligible rural and peri-urban customers, while urban residents will be able to pay connection costs in instalments.
Why it matters
The scheme targets the upfront cost that can stop households from being connected even when electricity infrastructure is available. For rural and peri-urban residents, removing the 27,000-shilling fee could make connection possible immediately. Urban customers get a repayment route instead of a single payment.
The scale is significant: 500,000 rural customers a year gives the partnership a clear first test of whether cheaper connections can translate into wider access. Its practical effect will depend on who qualifies and how the financing is delivered. The announcement does not specify the scheme’s duration, total financing or implementation timetable.
Ndejembi’s broader claim is that Tanzania has reached nine million electricity customers and leads Africa on connections. The figures point to substantial expansion, though comparisons across countries depend on whether the underlying access definitions are equivalent.
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