Minister
of Minerals, Hon. Anthony Mavunde, has urged the private sector to prepare for
significant changes in the country’s mining industry to increase Tanzanians'
involvement in the imperative sector of the economy.
Speaking
today in Dar es Salaam during an interview with a local Television station
(Clouds TV), Minister Mavunde explained that the Ministry of Minerals has
several strategies in place to achieve this goal.
The
strategies are in line with President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan's directives,
which want more Tanzanians to benefit from the mining sector.
“President
Dr. Samia S. Hassan has instructed that mining laws and policies be implemented
in a way that allows many Tanzanians to participate in and benefit from the
mining industry,” Minister Mavunde said.
He
stressed the need for local factories to produce high-quality goods needed in
the mining sector. This will help reduce the country’s dependence on imported
products.
“We aim to
make Tanzania a hub for producing mining-related goods and services in Africa.
The land where the Buzwagi mine used to be will be allocated for building
factories to manufacture mining products,” he explained.
Minister
Mavunde also shared that some foreign investors have already started setting up
factories in Tanzania’s Kahama region to produce goods for the mining sector.
However, these investors are required to collaborate with Tanzanians.
“In the
2022/23 financial year, TZS 3.1 trillion was spent on purchasing goods and
services for the mining sector. This is a large amount of money, and it should
stay within the country so that Tanzanians can benefit, instead of importing
products and services from abroad,” he added.
Minister
Mavunde also pointed out that Section 105 of the Mining Act, Chapter 123,
officially recognizes the participation of Tanzanians in the mining economy.
This law provides opportunities for more Tanzanians to engage directly in the
mining sector.
