The Minister for Minerals, Anthony Mavunde, has called on scholars and researchers to play a more active role in addressing challenges facing Tanzania’s mining sector, saying their expertise is essential in developing practical solutions that will enhance growth and maximize benefits for citizens and the nation.
Mavunde made the remarks on June 9, 2026 in Dar es Salaam while opening the 11th Innovation and Research Week organized by the University of Dar es Salaam, emphasizing the importance of strengthening collaboration between academia, industry, and government in advancing the mining sector.
He said the mining industry offers vast opportunities that require continuous research and innovation, urging academics to align their work with national development priorities, particularly in improving mineral exploration, value addition, and sustainable extraction practices.
He stressed that researchers should go beyond theoretical work and focus on solutions that directly address real challenges in the sector.
The Minister noted that under the Sixth Phase Government led by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, mineral exploration has been placed among key national priorities.
He said the government is implementing Vision 2030 under the theme “Madini ni Maisha na Utajiri,” which aims to expand detailed geological exploration coverage from 16 per cent to 50 per cent by the year 2030.
Mavunde praised the University of Dar es Salaam for its innovation and research programmes, saying they are empowering young people to become self-employed through creativity and applied research. He said such initiatives are critical in addressing youth unemployment and promoting entrepreneurship among graduates.
He further called on stakeholders in both the public and private sectors to support government efforts in developing the mining industry, noting that effective collaboration is necessary to transform research outputs into practical technologies that benefit the economy and society.
He added that Tanzania has already made notable progress in the mining sector, with its contribution to the national economy rising to 10.1 per cent in 2024, just one year before the 2025 target, reflecting the impact of reforms and increased investment in the sector.
Earlier, the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of Dar es Salaam, Prof. Nelson Boniface, said the 11th Innovation and Research Week, which began in 2015, continues to generate innovative ideas that promote self-employment and reduce dependency on formal jobs among graduates.
Barrick Tanzania Country Manager, Dr. Melkiory Ngido, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to working with the government and academic institutions, including the University of Dar es Salaam, to ensure research and innovation contribute directly to improving efficiency and productivity in the mining sector.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Dar es Salaam, Prof. William Anangisye, said the event has strengthened partnerships between academia, government, private sector actors, financial institutions, and other stakeholders, adding that the university remains committed to ensuring research influences policy and supports the use of modern technology in the sustainable exploitation of natural resources for current and future generations.
