Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has ordered all government officials to travel together on a single bus during official trips.
The directive aims to curb soaring fuel consumption amid shortages caused by the ongoing war in the Middle East.
Fuel prices in Tanzania have surged by roughly one-third since March, the nation’s energy regulator reported last week.
Hassan announced the measure at a swearing-in ceremony, outlining that only her core convoy would accompany her on trips.
Her usual motorcade includes more than 30 vehicles, often luxury SUVs and police outriders, paralyzing traffic in city streets.
“From now on, wherever I go, all officials will travel together in one bus to cut fuel consumption,” she stated.
The move reflects growing concern over disruptions in global oil flow, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s effective blockade of the strait has curtailed nearly a fifth of the world’s oil and gas shipments.
Other regional governments are also adjusting fuel use, with Ethiopia prioritising vehicles carrying essential goods and public transport.
Hassan’s decision symbolises both austerity and efficiency, signalling leadership adapting to a world where energy scarcity tests governance.
The single-bus policy will reshape the president’s public trips, shrinking the motorcade and easing both fuel demand and traffic congestion.
Officials say the measure also demonstrates solidarity with Tanzanians facing rising prices and unpredictable fuel availability nationwide.
Observers note the initiative blends practicality with spectacle, transforming presidential convoys from symbols of luxury into engines of restraint.