Tsotso Stoves

Tsotso Stoves
Theme
Energy systems
Area
Forestal
Women led
Place and constituency
Malba Enteprise
Summary

The initiative addresses chick mortality from cold, deforestation, and household pollution caused by traditional open wood fires. The Tsotso stove reduces firewood reliance, improves air quality, and enhances health by using small sticks efficiently. It empowers women, provides financial opportunities, and promotes environmental sustainability.

The problem

The problems being addressed by the initiative are chick mortality due to cold weather, massive deforestation due to cutting down of trees for firewood, and household pollution.  

Traditional open wood fires for cooking contribute to deforestation at an unsustainable rate. The Tsotso stove offers an alternative that reduces the reliance on firewood and minimizes environmental degradation.

Open fires produce indoor air pollution, leading to respiratory illnesses. The Tsotso stove provides a safer and cleaner cooking solution, improving the health of families.

The Tsotso stove is designed to use small sticks efficiently. It ensures that families can cook their meals or provide heat for their chicks with less fuel, reducing the need for frequent wood collection.

According to 2017 World Health Organization (WHO) Statistics, household air pollution is the leading cause of 534,000 annual deaths among children under five years of age globally1. Whilst families often keep chicks in their homes until a time they can be put in an actual fowl run, and whilst they also cook in closed kitchens, exposure to smoke from open fires and cookstoves leads to pneumonia, chronic respiratory disease, and lung cancer, causing an estimated 1.6 million deaths worldwide each year. The initiative is working towards improving the environment and living standards of low-income earners by setting up these stoves in various districts with high levels of deforestation2. 
 

The solution

Tsotso stoves i.e. locally made cookstoves, have become a game-changer in Gokwe South and other parts of Zimbabwe as they offer a sustainable solution to cooking and heating while protecting the environment and empowering women. The characteristics of these stoves include:

  • The Tsotso stove is a specially designed open clay pot used as a cookstove. It is simple in outlook but highly efficient in energy generation.
  • Fuel Efficiency. Traditionally, rural Zimbabweans used open wood fires for cooking. However, the Tsotso stove has replaced these open fires. The clay pots have openings at the sides to create a controlled fire. The word “Tsotso” in Shona means “small sticks”, which are used as fuel to cook meals and specifically to provide heat for chickens, to reduce chick mortality, for families in Gokwe.
  • Firewood is the most commonly used domestic fuel in Zimbabwe, but it leads to frequent deforestation at an unsustainable rate. The Tsotso stove provides a more sustainable alternative.
  • Community Empowerment. UNICEF, in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Childcare (MoHCC), has trained 450 women in Gokwe South to make these cookstoves. The design has gained traction across Africa and other developing countries.
  • Financial Freedom. Women like Petunia Chinyama have embraced the Tsotso stove not only as a household tool but also as a business venture. Petunia sells the stoves for up to USD 5, improving her household income and supporting her family.
  • The stove conserves heat for a long time.  
  • It uses falling tree branches. Does not require cutting down of trees.
  • Can be a source of livelihood (each stove goes for USD3)
  • Improves chicken production by reducing chick mortality due to cold temperatures, especially during winter. 
Effects and results

Over 24000 chickens are being reared by ISAL groups using tsotso stoves and hence the stoves have been a game changer in chicken rearing as well as cooking.

Managed to acquire land from the local authority which serves as an aggregation hub where chickens can be slaughtered and cold blasting to ensure that the chickens can also be sold to other areas.

17 promoters were trained with 5 groups each of 10 members. Total reach of the initiative is 850 women in Gokwe. 

Key-Takeaways
  • Emphasizes the importance of creating solutions that protect the environment while meeting human needs.
  • Showcases the value of designing products that maximize resource use and minimize waste.
  • Highlights the impact of involving local communities in the production and distribution process of locally led solutions for economic growth.
  • Demonstrates the significance of reducing health risks associated with traditional cooking methods.
  • Stresses the need for solutions that are culturally sensitive and locally adaptable.

 

Feasibility
  • Training programs on the production of the stoves: 17 promoters were trained with 5 groups each of 10 members. Total reach is 850 women in Gokwe.
  • Locally available raw materials: The stoves are made from locally sourced clay and designed to use small sticks, which are abundant in the area.
  • Local production capacity from the trained women: The trained women have the skills to produce the stoves and also to train others, creating a growing community of producers.

 

Potential for scaling

Scaling up:

  • Policy Support: The initiative aligns with Zimbabwe’s National Renewable Energy Policy, which aims to increase access to clean and affordable energy9. This policy framework can be leveraged to scale up the Tsotso stoves initiative.
  • Investment Programs: As of 2022, Zimbabwe had a USD 45 Million Renewable Energy Programme approved by the United Nations SDG-Fund, aiming to catalyze investments in renewable energy for the acceleration of the Sustainable Development Goals in the country10. Such programs can provide financial support for scaling up the Tsotso stoves.
  • Legislation: The Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency Act allows for non-discriminatory issuance of investment licenses to both local and international investors in renewable energy11. This can attract more investment into initiatives like the Tsotso stoves.
  • Planning: The government’s commitment to renewable energy, as seen in the establishment of an inclusive & gender-responsive Renewable Energy Fund, indicates a structured approach to scaling up sustainable solutions.
  • International Partnerships: Collaboration with international organizations and leveraging private investments are key strategies outlined in the renewable energy program, which can benefit the Tsotso stoves initiative.
  • Capacity Building: There is a focus on building technically skilled manpower in renewable energy fields, which is crucial for the long-term success and scaling up of solutions like the Tsotso stoves.

Scaling out: 

  • The Tsotso stoves are made from locally sourced materials and are based on a simple design, which makes them easily replicable in other rural contexts where similar materials are available.
  • The initiative also has a strong training component, which can be adapted and replicated in other communities to create local production capabilities.
  • Also, the stoves do not require sophisticated infrastructure for production, making them suitable for areas with limited industrial capabilities.
  • The stoves use small sticks and twigs, which are readily available in many rural areas, ensuring that the resources needed for operation are accessible.
  • The design of the stoves can be adapted to fit different cultural cooking practices, which is essential for acceptance in new communities.
  • In Zimbabwe, where the government is supportive of sustainable energy solutions, the Tsotso stoves initiative can align with policy objectives and receive backing for scaling out. 
Future
  • There is potential for market growth within and beyond Gokwe South, as the demand for sustainable and efficient cooking solutions continues to rise. 
  • Partnerships with health and environmental organizations can provide support for expanding the initiative’s reach and impact.