Tanzania’s expanding footprint in the global mining arena was on display during the Investing in African Mining Indaba conference held from February 8–12, 2026 in South Africa, where the country’s delegation, led by the Minister for Minerals, Anthony Mavunde, pitched the nation’s mineral potential to international investors.
But beyond policy discussions and investment forums, one Tanzanian entrepreneur quietly captured continental attention.
Leminatha Cornel Kabigumila, the founder and chief executive of RARE Mining East Africa Limited, won the Women Entrepreneur in Mining Award presented by African Women in Mining Associations at the prestigious Investing in African Mining Indaba conference.
For Kabigumila, it was her first appearance at the global mining gathering. She had travelled to network, learn and explore investment trends.
Instead, she returned home with one of Africa’s most notable recognitions for women in extractives.
“I did not know I would receive this award,” she said in an interview after the event. “I went to Indaba to gain knowledge and share experiences with others. Winning the award shows that hard work and integrity are noticed.”
Her recognition at Indaba adds to a growing list of domestic honours. In Tanzania, she has previously been named Best Miner, Best Taxpayer and Best Woman Miner during the country’s annual Mining Night awards held alongside the International Mining Investment Conference.
Her journey, however, began with uncertainty.
Kabigumila entered a sector long perceived as male-dominated and technically complex. She credits the formalisation reforms in Tanzania’s mining sector and support from regulatory officials for enabling her breakthrough.
She recalls that her first mining licence was facilitated by a resident mining officer who believed in her potential at a time when access to capital and credibility posed major hurdles.
“That first licence changed everything,” she said. “It gave me confidence and legitimacy. From there, I built my business step by step.”
Today, through RARE Mining, she holds 21 tin mining licences in Kyerwa District, Kagera Region, and additional gold mining licences in Kahama, Shinyanga and Manyara.
She sells her gold to the Bank of Tanzania in Dodoma, aligning her operations with the country’s formal mineral trading framework.
Industry observers say stories like Kabigumila’s reflect broader structural changes within Tanzania’s mining governance.
Over the past decade, regulatory reforms, improved licensing systems and the establishment of mineral markets have increased transparency and state revenue collection while widening participation.
Kabigumila argues that integrity remains the cornerstone of sustainable success in mining.
“All payments are processed through official government systems. Transparency protects both the miner and the country,” she said, adding that corruption undermines long-term growth.
At Mining Indaba, Tanzanian financial institutions and legal firms also promoted the country as an investment-friendly destination, offering structured financing models and professional advisory services to both local and foreign investors.
Kabigumila says the global exposure reshaped her outlook.
“Participating at Indaba gave me a broader international perspective. I saw how value addition, sustainability and community responsibility are shaping the future of mining,” she said. “Tanzania has the resources. What we need is innovation and discipline.”
Her award, she insists, is not just personal recognition but a signal of changing tides for women in extractives.
“When one woman succeeds, she opens the door for many others,” she said. “Women should start small, remain bold and never fear rejection.”
As Tanzania continues positioning mining as a pillar of economic transformation, Kabigumila’s trajectory underscores the role of local entrepreneurs in driving that agenda.
From a first licence secured against the odds to continental recognition, her story mirrors a sector in transition one that is gradually becoming more inclusive, formal and globally competitive.
