DODOMA, Tanzania — President Samia Suluhu Hassan has directed government agencies to cut fuel consumption, unveiling austerity measures aimed at easing pressure from rising global oil prices.
Speaking at Chamwino State House on Wednesday after swearing in newly appointed officials, the Tanzanian leader said the government must lead by example in reducing expenditure, beginning with her own office.
“Within the government, we have many vehicles and frequent travel. We must now reduce this,” President Samia said.
She announced immediate changes to official travel arrangements, including scaling down her motorcade and limiting the number of accompanying vehicles.
“Even in my office, when I travel, officials will no longer follow in separate cars. They will use shared transport to cut down fuel use. I will have a maximum of four cars, and the rest of my delegation will be transported in one bus,” she added.
The directive comes amid mounting global fuel costs linked to geopolitical tensions, including the fallout from a joint United States–Israel strike on Iran, which has disrupted oil supply chains and driven up prices worldwide.
Tanzania recently adjusted fuel prices, with petrol rising by about Tsh1,000 (approximately Sh50) per litre in changes announced by the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA).
EWURA attributed the increase to global market pressures, noting that the country is implementing measures to safeguard fuel supply and cushion consumers from severe economic impact.
Despite the rise, President Samia said Tanzania remains relatively stable compared to some neighbouring countries, with pump prices still comparatively lower.
She, however, cautioned businesses against exploiting the situation to arbitrarily raise prices of goods already in stock.
“Let us be fair to wananchi. Goods that were stocked earlier should not be used as an excuse to raise prices,” she said.
The President acknowledged that newly imported goods may see price increases due to higher transport and logistics costs, but urged traders to act responsibly to protect consumers.
“These are global developments. Even as leaders, we continue to call for peace so that trade and the movement of oil and goods can return to normal,” she added.
The austerity directive signals a broader push by the Tanzanian government to manage the economic ripple effects of global energy shocks, as countries across the region grapple with inflationary pressures driven by rising fuel costs.
