The government has suspended mining activities at Kanyindo in Chato District, Geita Region, in a move aimed at enforcing compliance with laws governing land ownership and mineral rights.
The decision, announced on May 3, 2026, by Minister for Minerals Anthony Mavunde, follows a dispute between Bagogogo Mining Company and local farm owners.
The suspension affects operations under Bagogogo’s licence and is intended to allow authorities to resolve disagreements over land access and compensation before mining can resume.
Speaking during a meeting to address the dispute, Mavunde said Tanzanian law clearly distinguishes between land rights and mineral rights.
Under the Mining Act, Cap 123, a licence holder cannot begin extraction activities without reaching an agreement with the landowner.
He said that where a landowner refuses consent without valid reasons, the law allows the Minister to intervene and make a decision.
“The government will continue to enforce laws, regulations and procedures in the mining sector to reduce unnecessary conflicts and ensure orderly investment,” Mavunde said.
He added that the law does not require landowners to receive shares in mining operations unless such arrangements are agreed upon voluntarily by both parties.
Mavunde also emphasised that, under land laws, minerals and petroleum resources are not part of private land ownership, meaning all underground minerals are public property.
He directed both the farm owners and Bagogogo Mining Company to continue discussions through the Chato District Commissioner’s office, with the aim of completing valuation processes and reaching a legally binding agreement.
The minister further instructed the company to halt all mining activities until compensation issues are resolved.
The meeting was attended by several leaders, including Geita Regional Commissioner Martine Shigela, the Chato District Commissioner, the Regional Administrative Secretary, the Member of Parliament for Chato South, as well as officials from the Ministries of Lands and Minerals, the Mining Commission, and members of the regional security committee.
The government’s intervention highlights ongoing efforts to balance investor interests with the protection of citizens’ land rights, while ensuring that the country’s natural resources are managed in line with the law.
