The Government has issued a strong warning to Regional Resident Mining Officers whose offices are found to be contributing to conflicts in mining areas, as part of broader efforts to strengthen accountability and professionalism in the sector.
Minister for Minerals Anthony Mavunde said stern measures will be taken against officials who violate mining laws or issue licenses to unqualified applicants, actions that have reportedly triggered disputes among miners in several regions.
He made the remarks in Dodoma while opening a Mining Commission management meeting that brought together directors, managers and regional officers to review performance for the second quarter of the year and chart strategies to address operational and regulatory challenges in the mining industry.
The Minister said recurring conflicts in mining areas undermine investor confidence, disrupt production and threaten community stability, noting that some of the problems stem from weak oversight and unethical conduct within regional mining offices.
“If conflicts persist in your jurisdiction and it is established that your office is responsible, I will not hesitate to take decisive action, including removal from office,” he said.
Mr. Mavunde directed mining officers to uphold fairness, transparency and professionalism in issuing licenses and delivering services, while also encouraging them to promote a more supportive environment for both large-scale investors and small-scale miners.
He further instructed officers to submit, within seven days, a list of large-scale prospecting licenses that remain inactive.
Such licenses, he said, will be subjected to legal action, including penalties and possible revocation, before being reassigned particularly to small-scale miners with the capacity to develop them.
The Minister also ordered the Director of Licensing to compile a comprehensive list of companies holding major prospecting licenses for close monitoring, stressing that the Government intends to ensure every license contributes meaningfully to national economic growth.
In a move aimed at improving efficiency and reducing bureaucracy, Mr. Mavunde directed the Mining Commission to ensure that the e-licensing system becomes fully operational before June 30, 2026, enabling clients to access services without physically visiting offices.
He also warned mining license holders against sitting on undeveloped concessions, saying licenses found to be inactive will be withdrawn and reassigned to serious investors.
As part of promoting inclusive participation in the sector, the Minister instructed regional officers to submit, before February 28, 2026, reports on mining areas reserved for women and youth under the Mining for a Brighter Tomorrow (MBT) initiative.
Beyond enforcement, Mr. Mavunde called for stronger collaboration among Regional Mining Officers and urged them to uphold ethical standards among their staff, emphasizing that their conduct reflects the public image of the Ministry of Minerals.
At the same meeting, he commended the Mining Commission for consistently exceeding revenue collection targets, noting a sharp rise in mining revenue from TZS 161 billion in the 2015/2016 financial year to TZS 1.071 trillion in 2024/2025.
He attributed the growth to legal reforms, the establishment of mineral markets and buying centers, and tighter control over revenue leakages.
He added that between July 2025 and January 22, 2026, the Government had already collected TZS 719 billion about 59.9 percent of the TZS 1.2 trillion target for the 2025/2026 fiscal year expressing confidence that the target will be surpassed before the end of June.
Deputy Minister for Minerals Steven Kiruswa praised the Minister’s leadership and reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening the mining sector under the guidance of President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
Officials from the Ministry and the Mining Commission also welcomed ongoing reforms, citing improvements in service delivery and access to working tools as key drivers of better performance in the sector.