The government has launched a nationwide drive to expand access to small-scale mining licences for youth, women, and special groups, aiming to increase participation in the mining sector and reduce exploitation in mineral-rich communities.
Speaking in Msasa, Bukombe District, on Wednesday, Minister of Minerals Anthony Mavunde said the programme, ‘Mining for a Brighter Tomorrow’ (MBT), targets about 4,000 organised groups of women and youth.
“The broader direction comes from President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who has instructed the government to formalise and strengthen small-scale mining so that Tanzanians can participate legally, safely, and profitably,” Minister Mavunde said.
He highlighted that informal arrangements often leave miners particularly women and other vulnerable groups exposed to unfair terms and exploitation.
Formal licensing and stronger oversight are intended to improve miners’ bargaining power, protect their rights, and establish clear, enforceable working relationships at mining sites.
To address immediate challenges in Msasa, the minister directed mining authorities to convene miners and licence holders to agree on fair and transparent arrangements, especially where rush activity has created tension and unequal profit sharing.
Minister Mavunde encouraged miners to organise into groups, saying structured organisation makes it easier for the government to issue licences, provide support, and enforce compliance while safeguarding small-scale operators. He emphasised that expanding ownership is now a national priority.
“The government wants more Tanzanians to move from informal labour to lawful rights holders and, over time, grow from small-scale to medium and eventually large-scale miners. The goal is not only to expand licence access but to ensure mining contributes to stable livelihoods and local economic transformation,” he said.
The minister also warned against idle prospecting licences, announcing stricter enforcement under the Mining Act. Licence holders are required to demonstrate active exploration through quarterly reporting. Default notices and licence cancellations will follow non-compliance, freeing idle land for productive use.
In Msasa, the Mining Commission will take over a prospecting area nearing expiry and reassign it to organised small-scale miners, enabling them to operate legally without resorting to informal or exploitative arrangements.
Regional leaders highlighted the importance of supportive infrastructure. Geita Regional Commissioner Martin Shigella said plans are underway to extend electricity to mining areas in Msasa, reducing operating costs and supporting higher productivity.
Stakeholders welcomed the reforms. FEMATA President John Bina said small-scale miners have seen tangible improvements in recent years and called for continued collaboration with government institutions to reduce barriers and enhance support.
Official figures show Bukombe District hosts 652 small-scale mining licences and over 5,700 organised groups, alongside processing infrastructure.
With the MBT licence expansion, stricter enforcement of idle prospecting licences, and targeted measures to improve operating conditions, the government expects these reforms to increase lawful ownership, reduce exploitation, and strengthen the foundation of small-scale mining under President Samia’s empowerment agenda.