By Correspondent, Dodoma.
A delegation from Zambia, led by the country’s High Commissioner to Tanzania, Matthews Jerre, has expressed strong admiration for the progress Tanzania has made in developing its mining sector, particularly in strengthening mineral markets and formalising activities from small-scale to large-scale mining.
Speaking on November 20, 2025, after receiving a detailed briefing on Tanzania’s mining landscape, Amb. Jerre said Zambia is keen to learn from Tanzania’s achievements.
During the engagement, Tisa Chama, a Senior Technical Officer from Zambia’s state-owned mining investment company ZCCM-IH, commended Tanzania for establishing a well-coordinated marketing framework that links all mineral markets and buying centres across the country.
He noted that this is an area Zambia hopes to emulate to improve transparency and understand the actual volume of gold produced nationally.
The Tech works on mineral marketing systems and the country’s integration of artisanal miners, including extraction, regulation, marketing systems, and investment frameworks under the 2009 Mineral Policy.
Kennedy Mwandama, Chief Commercial Officer at ZCCM-IH, was equally impressed by Tanzania’s adoption of technology in exploration and processing activities through professional guidance and sector-wide policies.
“I am particularly impressed by the use of technology in mineral markets and gold-buying centres in different parts of the country. This is a major advantage for stakeholders and the nation at large, and a significant step forward in the sector,” Mwandama said.
Assistant Commissioner for Minerals, Archard Kalugendo, told the delegation that Tanzania prioritised the formalisation of artisanal and small-scale miners to recognise their critical contribution to the industry.
Currently, small-scale miners account for about 40 percent of mining sector revenue. In 2024, the sector contributed 10.1 percent to the national GDP.
Kalugendo noted that major reforms followed amendments to the Mining Act in 2017, which paved the way for the establishment of formal mineral markets and gold-buying centres across the country.
He further applauded the Zambian delegation for openly recognising their own challenges, particularly in gold mining and regulation, and choosing Tanzania as a learning destination.
As part of their mission, the team visited the Eyes of Africa gold refinery in Dodoma to observe gold purification technologies and operational standards.
Ference Molnar, owner of Eyes of Africa, praised the Tanzanian Government for creating an enabling environment for gold refinery investors, especially through its collaboration with artisanal miners and financial institutions, including the Bank of Tanzania.