Rukwa Region has set aside 7,180 hectares for small-scale mining, in a move expected to expand access to mining licences, create jobs and boost government revenue.
The designated area could accommodate 718 small-scale mining licences, potentially generating more than TZS 71.8 million in government revenue, as the region seeks to formalise mining activities and attract investment in its mineral resources.
Resident Mining Officer for Rukwa, Engineer Joseph Kumburu, said the area was identified following an assessment conducted between July and October 2024, which found 13 inactive mineral exploration licence applications in Nkasi, Kalambo and Sumbawanga districts.
Speaking during the National Youth Week exhibitions at Ndua Primary School grounds in Sumbawanga Municipality, Kumburu said the assessed areas showed indications of mica, copper, iron, quartz and amethyst deposits.
The move comes as the region seeks to translate its mineral potential into economic opportunities for local communities, particularly small-scale miners, young people and women.
Kumburu said 10 investors had expressed interest in investing in Rukwa following a mining sector stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Regional Commissioner’s Office in August 2024. Five had since started mining activities involving emeralds, copper, titanium and coal.
The region has also identified gold mining opportunities in Nkasi District, where 420 square kilometres covering Nchenje, Chonga, Isale and Nkandasi villages have been earmarked for gold exploration and mining.
According to Kumburu, 74 small-scale gold mining licences had been issued and operations had started, while another 366 applications were being processed.
Of the licences issued, 24 went to women, while 86 applications submitted by women were still under consideration. A further 15 applications had been submitted by associations, groups and institutions seeking to enable young people to participate in mining.
The figures point to growing interest in small-scale mining, although the pace at which pending applications are processed and licence holders access capital, equipment and markets will be important in determining how many applicants can turn the opportunity into viable businesses.
The region is also collaborating with the National Service (JKT), through its 846 KJ Luwa camp, to explore gold deposits in Luwa Village.
Kumburu said the government’s Mining for a Brighter Tomorrow (MBT) initiative was being used to widen participation in small-scale mining.
Under the initiative, 21 licence applications submitted by groups of young people and women in Nchenje Village were being processed.
He said 30 areas had also been set aside for young people, women and people with disabilities to participate in mining activities and improve their livelihoods.
Access to mining areas and licences could provide a starting point for greater participation in the sector. However, the economic benefits will also depend on whether beneficiaries can secure financing, acquire appropriate equipment and operate within formal regulatory requirements.
Beyond extraction, Rukwa is preparing to establish a Copper Mineral Industrial Park in Nkasi District as part of efforts to increase domestic mineral processing and value addition.
Kumburu said 26 areas with exploration licences and indications of copper deposits had been identified and placed under the supervision of the Mining Commission.
An additional 2,000 acres in Mkangale Ward, Namanyere, had been allocated for the proposed industrial park, which is expected to be developed in collaboration with the Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA).
The project is intended to attract investors, create employment and increase government revenue by expanding copper processing activities within the country.
Developing local processing capacity could also create opportunities for businesses supplying equipment, transport, maintenance and other services to mining companies. The scale of these benefits, however, will depend on investment commitments and the project's implementation.
The region is also pursuing international partnerships to support exploration and attract strategic investment.
Kumburu said the 3rd Geological Brigade of Sichuan Province, a Chinese government geological exploration company, had visited Rukwa to conduct a preliminary assessment of its mineral potential.
The visit followed a trip by Tanzanian experts to China in December 2025 to promote investment opportunities in the country's mining sector.
The initiatives are part of Rukwa's broader efforts to develop its mineral resources, expand small-scale mining and attract investment in processing.
The key test will be whether the planned mining areas and industrial park translate into operating businesses, sustainable employment and increased local economic activity.