Tanzania’s mining sector continues to gain international visibility as local professionals increasingly make their mark on global platforms.
Among those raising the country’s profile is Eng. Rose Mayembe, a Tanzanian mining engineer and sustainability specialist whose work in responsible mining has earned her recognition at one of Africa’s most influential industry forums.
Eng. Mayembe recently emerged second in the category of Leading Woman in Large-Scale Mining in Africa during the African Mining Indaba held in South Africa.
The award, presented by the African Women in Mining and Minerals Federation (AWIMA), honours women making significant contributions to the mining industry across the continent.
In the highly competitive category, Mayembe finished behind the overall winner from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and ahead of another finalist from South Africa, marking a major achievement for Tanzania in the large-scale mining space.
Her recognition reflects both personal dedication and the increasing role of Tanzanian professionals—particularly women in shaping the future of Africa’s mineral sector.
Speaking in an interview with Madini Diary, Mayembe described the award as a significant milestone, not only for her career but also for Tanzanian women working in mining.
She said platforms such as the African Mining Indaba bring together governments, global investors, mining companies and technical experts from around the world, creating opportunities for knowledge exchange and industry partnerships.
“This recognition shows that Tanzanian women have the ability to compete and lead in large-scale mining operations at the continental level,” she said.
“For women, such recognition represents the breaking of barriers and confirms that we can take part in decision-making processes that shape the future of the mining industry.”
Mayembe is a mining engineer with expertise in environmental and social governance, sustainable mining practices and climate change.
Her career spans more than a decade in the sector, during which she has worked on projects that seek to balance economic benefits from mineral resources with environmental protection and social responsibility.
Her journey in mining began about 12 years ago when she participated in the implementation of mine closure and post-closure activities at the Golden Pride Gold Mine in Nzega District, Tabora Region. The mine was operated by Resolute Mining.
According to Mayembe, the experience was a turning point that shaped her professional outlook.
Working on mine closure exposed her to the long-term environmental and social implications that mining operations can have on communities if sustainability measures are not integrated early in project planning.
“That experience helped me understand the importance of incorporating environmental and social considerations from the very beginning of a mining project,” she explained.
“It also highlighted the need to integrate climate change thinking and innovation into mining development strategies.”
Since then, her work has focused on promoting responsible mining practices that ensure mineral extraction contributes to economic growth while protecting ecosystems and supporting community welfare.
Beyond the recognition at the African Mining Indaba, Mayembe has also received international acknowledgement for her work in sustainable resource development.
In 2025 she received the Global Advocacy Award in the category of Clean Energy and Sustainable Mining during the Global Advocacy Forum Awards 2025 held in London, United Kingdom.
The award recognised her contribution to advancing the goals of United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7, which promotes affordable and clean energy alongside environmentally responsible development.
Currently, Mayembe contributes to both national and international mining projects, working across different stages of a mine’s lifecycle from feasibility studies and design to operations, mine closure and post-closure management.
She says her main focus is to ensure that mining operations generate revenue while protecting the environment, respecting human rights and supporting sustainable development in surrounding communities.
Over the years, she has built a reputation for combining technical engineering knowledge with environmental and social perspectives, allowing her to analyse mining projects from a broader strategic viewpoint.
“When I began presenting ideas supported by professional analysis and data, I realised that leadership is not necessarily about holding a position but about influencing decisions,” she said.
“From that moment I stopped seeing myself as a peripheral participant and instead became part of shaping the direction of the sector.”
Asked what helped her rise in a traditionally male-dominated industry, Mayembe said personal determination and confidence in her expertise played an important role.
She explained that success required believing in her ideas and not waiting for external validation in a sector where certain voices have historically dominated discussions.
“I realised that the strength of an argument often matters more than the voice presenting it,” she said.
Mayembe believes her ability to integrate different disciplines has helped distinguish her professional contribution.
She views mining not simply as mineral extraction but as a system that involves engineering, environmental management, social impact, financial sustainability and policy considerations.
Her experience across the entire lifecycle of mining operations from feasibility and design to closure and rehabilitation has given her a comprehensive understanding of how sustainability must be embedded from the earliest stages of project planning.
She also emphasises the importance of integrating climate change considerations and human rights principles into mining governance and decision-making.
According to her, sustainable mining requires a balanced approach that aligns economic, environmental and social priorities.
Mayembe also highlighted the need to expand opportunities for women in Tanzania’s mining industry. She said women working in the sector, including miners and technical professionals, have demonstrated strong capability but still face limited opportunities to take leadership roles.
“The challenge is not capability it is opportunity,” she said.
She believes women should be more actively involved in strategic discussions, board-level decisions and policy development rather than remaining mainly in operational roles.
On artisanal and small-scale mining, Mayembe stressed the importance of strengthening support systems for small miners in Tanzania.
She suggested formalising their operations, improving access to financing and providing business training alongside mandatory environmental and occupational safety education.
According to her, simplified Environmental Impact Assessment procedures and improved professional monitoring could help improve the sector’s performance without placing unnecessary regulatory burdens on small-scale operators.
Such reforms, she said, would contribute to building a safer and more sustainable artisanal mining industry capable of supporting livelihoods while protecting the environment.
As she continues to represent Tanzania on international platforms, Mayembe hopes her journey will inspire more young women to pursue careers in mining and related technical fields.
She urged Tanzanians particularly girls and young women to invest in education and skills development and to actively participate in decision-making spaces.
“Mining should not be seen as a gender-specific field,” she said.
“It is an area full of opportunities for innovation and leadership. Capability has no gender, and when women and young people are fully involved, the sector can become an even stronger driver of development.”he added