The Tanzania Mining Commission has unveiled a range of development projects and opportunities aimed at expanding youth participation in the mining sector during the 2026/27 financial year.
The initiatives include the allocation of mining areas, access to investment financing, training opportunities and participation in development projects, as part of government efforts to create an enabling environment for young people to engage in mineral extraction and related businesses.
Speaking to journalists in Dodoma on March 16, 2026, Director of Mine Inspection and Environment Eng. Hamisi Kamando said the Commission has put in place several strategies to increase youth participation in mining activities across the country.
Kamando was speaking on behalf of the Commission’s Executive Secretary, Eng. Ramadhani Lwamo.
He said one of the key initiatives includes the continued construction of offices for Resident Mines Officers in various regions through competitive tenders, urging young entrepreneurs to monitor the tender announcements and take advantage of the opportunities created by the projects.
The Commission also plans to continue organising gemstone auctions and mineral exhibitions while setting aside additional mining areas specifically for youth in different regions, depending on the type of minerals available.
Kamando said the Commission is working closely with the Geological Survey of Tanzania and the State Mining Corporation to simplify access to geological information and equip young people with skills to use modern technology in mineral exploration and mining.
He added that the Commission is also collaborating with financial institutions, including CRDB Bank, to establish financing mechanisms that will enable youth to obtain capital for investment in mining.
On local content implementation, Kamando said that between July and December 2025, mining companies purchased goods and services worth TZS 3.8 trillion from Tanzanian companies, including those owned or employing youth.
He said the milestone followed the reservation of 20 categories of goods and services exclusively for companies that are 100 percent Tanzanian-owned.
The Mining Commission also signed a cooperation agreement with CRDB Bank on February 23, 2026 to support small-scale gold miners, particularly youth, in accessing financing to expand their investments in the sector.
Kamando noted that the government, through the Ministry of Minerals, continues to enforce policies and laws that require minerals produced in the country to be processed locally before export.
Currently, seven mineral processing and refining factories are operating in the country, creating 273 jobs—many of them for young people. Between July and December 2025 alone, minerals worth TZS 5.802 trillion were processed locally before export.
Through the Mining for Better Tomorrow (MBT) reform project, the Commission issued 273 licences to 183 youth groups between July and December 2025 in regions including Mara Region, Kagera Region, Shinyanga Region, Morogoro Region, Dodoma Region and Njombe Region.
The youth groups are engaged in mining activities such as gold, copper and gemstone extraction, as well as salt production and construction minerals. By December 2025, the project had created 2,550 direct jobs for young people.
Kamando added that the government continues to prioritise small-scale miners, issuing 5,983 licences between July and December 2025 equivalent to 71 percent of all licences granted during the period.
He noted that small-scale mining licences are reserved exclusively for Tanzanians, with most applicants being youth aged between 18 and 45.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Minerals, through the Mining Commission, has proposed setting aside 65 special mining areas for small-scale miners in regions including Mtwara Region, Manyara Region, Lindi Region, Morogoro Region, Dodoma Region, Tabora Region, Geita Region, Shinyanga Region, Mwanza Region and Mbeya Region.
The move is expected to create more opportunities for youth to participate in mining activities while contributing to the country’s economic growth.
