Mwanza Precious Metals Refinery (MPMR) has emerged as a key player in Tanzania’s gold industry, successfully collecting over five tonnes of gold on behalf of the Bank of Tanzania (BOT), underscoring the refinery’s strategic role in formalizing and streamlining the country’s gold trade.
According to Mwanza Regional Resident Mining Officer, Engineer Nyaisara Mgaya, the refinery has the technical capacity to process up to 960 kilograms of gold daily, although current operations run at 480 kilograms per day due to raw material constraints.
This highlights both the potential and the current operational realities of Tanzania’s gold-processing industry.
The refinery’s performance drew the attention of a delegation from Malawi, led by Zizwan Khonje, CEO of Group Business Development, who visited Mwanza to study Tanzania’s mineral management and trading systems.
Khonje praised Tanzania for establishing open gold markets and implementing digital systems to manage resources, calling the country a model for transparency and efficiency in East Africa.
The delegation’s visit included an official reception at the Mwanza Regional Commissioner’s office, where Regional Secretary Balandya Elikana welcomed the visitors and emphasized the importance of knowledge exchange in driving sectoral growth.
The interactions can catalyze regional reforms, enabling countries like Malawi to adopt best practices, enhance government revenues, and integrate small-scale miners into international gold markets. MPMR’s operational success demonstrates how strategic investments, digital oversight, and market transparency can position Tanzania as a leader in East Africa’s mining sector.