By Alfred Zacharia
To strengthen the mining sector and help small-scale miners in Tanzania benefit more from mineral resources, Minister of Minerals, Mr. Anthony Mavunde, has appointed a special team. The team includes experts from both the government and the private sector.
The experts will advise the Ministry of Minerals on how to empower small-scale miners through better mining practices.
Speaking in Dodoma on April 9, 2025, Minister Mavunde said this initiative is part of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s plan.
The President wants small-scale miners to benefit more from mining, using more profitable and sustainable methods. This will help them contribute more to the national economy.
“The small-scale mining sector is very important,” Mavunde said.
“Our 2009 Mining Policy makes it clear that we want to support small-scale miners. We will help them adopt modern mining techniques, provide geological data for their mining areas, increase their capital, and ensure environmental protection,” he added.
He added that the ruling party, CCM’s manifesto, aims to create more jobs for Tanzanians, with mining being a key sector. The Government, through the Ministry of Minerals, is committed to helping small-scale miners grow and create more job opportunities.
“To make the mining sector grow faster and more effectively, we need to give Tanzanians more opportunities to directly participate in the industry,” Mavunde explained.
The team has been formed to provide small-scale miners with technical support, capital, access to mining areas, and modern technology.
"We are also setting up a strong system to support miners, whether they are small or large-scale,” he said.
Mavunde outlined the main tasks for the team. These include proposing ways to help small-scale miners make their mining more productive, suggesting the creation of a Small-Scale Miners Bank, and advising on a Mining Fund to support local miners.
The team will be led by Chairman Victor Tesha (Vice President, FEMATA), with Dr. Abdulrahman Mwanga (Commissioner for Minerals) as Secretary.
Other members include Theobald Sabi (CEO of NBC Bank and Chairman of the Bankers and Financial Institutions Association), Ivan (Financial Expert), Dr. Mussa Budeba (CEO of GST), Hadija Ramadhani (Lawyer from the Mining Commission), and Dr. Theresia Numbi (Legal Expert and Local Content Specialist).
The team has one month to submit its recommendations to the Ministry. Minister Mavunde emphasized that the Government is ready to act on these suggestions right away to improve the role of small-scale miners in the economy.
In his speech, Team Chairman Victor Tesha promised that the team would work with professionalism and integrity. They will use their knowledge and experience to find the best solutions for small-scale miners.
