By CEO Erwin Spolders
Last month REDAVIA launched its first two community minigrids in the remote Songwe region in western Tanzania, partially financed by InfraCo Africa, EEP Africa and others. Due to Tanzania’s low electrification rates, neither community had access to power previously, holding back local development.
The events we held to celebrate the launch of the minigrids served more of a purpose than just promotion. It has been very important to us to involve the local community and make the our customers part of the project. We found that they had many questions; they wanted to understand what our goals are and tell us what their goals are in return. This community engagement helps to integrate REDAVIA into the community and makes this a true partnership.
“Nyie sasa ni wanakijiji wenzetu,” said Tamson Mwasenga, the chief of Shitunguru, at the launch event. “You are now our fellow villagers.”
One topic that the community members were eager to discuss is how far our energy can take them. The introduction of clean energy has an immediate positive impact on people’s lives. It eliminates the need for polluting and cumbersome kerosene and diesel fuels and facilitates many aspects of daily life. The people in the communities are excited about household uses such as lighting, but they are already eager to know how else they can use electricity, for example to grow chickens or run a restaurant.
“My work requires powerful electricity, therefore, I am very grateful to have REDAVIA’s reliable power,” said Christopher Mwamlima, resident in Shitunguru.
We are very proud to contribute to Tanzania’s rural electrification. Our own diverse team of 16 includes 10 different nationalities, yet everyone at REDAVIA shares with our community customers the common human ambition for a better life: for ourselves, for our friends and relatives, for our children.
So, yes. “[Nyie sasa] ni wanakijiji wenzetu.” We are now their fellow villagers. But actually, we always had been.