GEITA — Communities in Geita District and Geita Municipality are receiving about TZS9.2 billion a year from Geita Gold Mining Limited (GGML) for projects in education, health, roads, water and other infrastructure, the company has said.
The figure was disclosed by GGML Director of Development and Relations Gilbert Mworia during a discussion on the opportunities created by the mine at the ninth National Mineral Technology and Investment Exhibition in Geita.
Mr Mworia said the company spends between TZS13 billion and TZS15 billion annually supporting community initiatives across the country, with part of the money directed to institutions, Government agencies, organisations and individuals.
He said the investment was intended to address some of the needs of communities living around the mine while contributing to broader development.
“For Geita District Council and Geita Municipality, we set aside TZS9.2 billion every year for projects in education, health, infrastructure, roads and water,” Mr Mworia said.
The disclosure puts the scale of GGML’s community spending into perspective as residents in mining areas continue to look for tangible benefits from mineral resources extracted from their communities.
Mr Mworia said GGML’s contribution was not limited to CSR projects, but also included taxes, employment, local procurement and investment in the wider economy.
He said the company had a responsibility to maintain a constructive relationship with communities around its operations.
“We have a responsibility to the communities around us, not only in Geita but in different parts of the country,” he said.
In the health sector, Mr Mworia said GGML had entered into a three-year agreement with the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI) to support children with heart conditions.
The company also operates a health service vessel that provides medical services to people living on 10 islands in Lake Victoria, particularly in Geita, Mwanza and Kagera regions.
The initiative is aimed at taking health services closer to communities that can face difficulties accessing facilities on the mainland.
In education, Mr Mworia said GGML had supported the construction of more than 1,000 classrooms, while more than 150 health centres and dispensaries had been constructed or supported by the company.
The company has also contributed to the construction and improvement of hospitals, he said.
Beyond social projects, Mr Mworia said the mine contributes to the economy through jobs and purchases of goods and services from Tanzanian companies.
“GGML’s contribution does not end with social projects. It also includes investment, employment, procurement of goods and services from local companies and payment of taxes,” he said.
The emphasis on local procurement means the mine’s economic footprint extends beyond its workforce, as Tanzanian businesses supplying goods and services can also benefit from mining activity.
Some Geita residents have commended GGML for supporting development projects in their communities, particularly in health, education and infrastructure.
However, the scale of the company’s spending also highlights the importance of tracking the impact of such investments, including how many people benefit from the projects and whether they address the most pressing needs of communities hosting mining operations.
The comments were made during the ninth National Mineral Technology and Investment Exhibition, which is bringing together mining companies, Government institutions and other stakeholders to discuss opportunities and challenges in Tanzania’s mineral sector.