The Government has intensified efforts to economically empower women in the mining sector by providing modern equipment and expanding access to productive mining opportunities, in a move aimed at improving efficiency and increasing their contribution to the economy.
Minister for Minerals, Anthony Mavunde, on April 23, 2026, handed over 10 modern water pumps to members of the Tanzania Women Miners Association (TAWOMA) during a national conference on opportunities and reforms for women in the mining sector held in Dodoma.
The pumps are part of 17 units planned for distribution under the Government’s Mining for a Brighter Tomorrow (MBT) programme, which focuses on empowering women and youth through access to tools, technology and knowledge.
Mavunde said the Government, through the Ministry of Minerals and its institutions, will continue to strengthen women, youth and people with special needs by equipping them with mining tools, rock drilling machines and access to surveyed mining plots.
He said the initiative is intended to promote productive and sustainable mining, while reducing losses often caused by operating in unverified areas.
“The Government is committed to ensuring these groups engage in mining with confidence, efficiency and guaranteed returns,” he said.
He added that under the MBT programme, beneficiaries are also being supported with mineral processing machines and licenses backed by geological surveys to enhance productivity and reduce operational risks.
According to the minister, small-scale miners currently contribute about 40 percent of total revenue in the mining sector, which has reached TZS 1.1 trillion as of April 2026, underscoring their growing importance to the national economy.
The Chief Executive Officer of the State Mining Corporation (STAMICO), Venance Mwase, said the corporation will continue supporting small-scale miners by providing machinery and conducting detailed geological research to unlock more opportunities.
He said the efforts align with the country’s long-term vision of transforming the mining sector into a key pillar of livelihoods and national wealth.
TAWOMA Chairperson, Semeni Malale, said the association’s flagship Mining Queen project has been instrumental in linking women and youth to opportunities across the mining value chain.
She said the initiative has so far economically empowered more than 7,000 women in 21 regions, alongside 120 youth, by improving access to skills, equipment and markets.
Dodoma District Commissioner Jabiri Shekimweri, who represented the Regional Commissioner, commended TAWOMA for integrating young people into the mining sector.
He noted that youth account for 21 percent of Tanzania’s population, according to the 2022 Population and Housing Census.
The conference brought together key stakeholders, including the Mining Commission, the Geological Survey of Tanzania (GST), CRDB Bank, Azania Bank and GF Trucks, reflecting a growing partnership between government and the private sector in transforming the mining industry.
