The Minister of Minerals, Anthony Mavunde, has called on all mining license holders to strictly comply with the Mining Act, Cap. 123, and its regulations in carrying out their activities.
Speaking during a visit to the Kasubuya mining area in Nyang’wale District, Minister Mavunde highlighted that small-scale miners now contribute more than 40 percent of the sector’s revenue.
He noted that their contribution continues to grow thanks to significant improvements in laws, policies, and operational frameworks introduced by the government.
He added that following amendments to the law in 2024, the Bank of Tanzania (BoT) officially began buying gold nationwide from October 1, 2024, acquiring more than 15 tons so far.
This milestone has positioned Tanzania among the top ten African countries with substantial gold reserves.
Minister Mavunde urged license holders to actively develop their mining areas, warning that any licenses left idle will be revoked and reallocated to those capable of utilizing them.
“Anyone granted a license must develop it. Holding land without development is not allowed. I assure you that undeveloped licenses will be revoked immediately to allow capable investors to take over,” he said.
To improve mineral testing services, the government is constructing three large laboratories in Geita, Dodoma, and Chunya regions to provide miners with easier access to reliable testing services.
Minister Mavunde also revealed that President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan has instructed detailed mineral surveys.
The ministry plans to use helicopters to conduct in-depth surveys of mineral-rich areas, helping small-scale miners access accurate data and avoid speculative mining.
Addressing the rising prices and shortage of cyanide, the minister said a special meeting will be held on December 2, 2025, with the Minerals Commission and the Government Chemist’s Office to find solutions for small-scale miners.
Nyang’wale District Commissioner, Grace Kingalame, praised the minister for his strong oversight that benefits small-scale miners. Nyang’wale MP, Hussein Nassor Amar, urged that unused research licenses be revoked and redistributed to small-scale miners.
Khamis Mohamed, Chairperson of the National Small-Scale Miners Youth Group, thanked the minister for supporting the MBT program and called for areas with verified mineral data to be allocated to youth, women, and vulnerable groups.
Minister Mavunde concluded by calling for peace in all mining areas.“Tanzania is a peaceful country. Let us protect this peace and respect each other in mining activities,” he said.