The Rukwa Regional Mining Office has issued 74 small-scale gold mining licences in Nkasi District, with a further 366 applications under review, as the government steps up efforts to expand mining opportunities for young people, women and other small-scale miners.
Rukwa Resident Mining Officer, Engineer Joseph Kumburu, said the initiative was part of broader efforts to unlock the region’s mineral potential, promote investment and create employment opportunities.
He made the remarks when Tanzania Police Force Commissioner for Operations and Training, CP Awadh Juma Haji, visited the Regional Mining Office’s pavilion during the Youth Week celebrations, running from October 8 to 14, 2026.
Kumburu said the licences had been issued following the allocation of 420 square kilometres for gold exploration and mining in Nchenje, Chonga, Isale and Nkandasi villages in Nkasi District.
Of the licences issued, 24 had benefited women, while 366 additional applications were being processed. He said the applications included 86 licence applications and 15 submissions from associations, groups and institutions seeking to facilitate youth participation in mining activities.
The initiative is expected to broaden access to mining opportunities and enable more Tanzanians to benefit from the country’s mineral resources.
Kumburu added that the regional mining office was collaborating with the National Service (JKT), through 846 KJ Luwa Camp, to conduct gold exploration in Luwa Village to identify further opportunities for mining and investment.
In a related development, the region has set aside 2,000 acres in Mkangale Ward, Namanyere, Nkasi District, for the establishment of a proposed Copper Mineral Industrial Park.
Kumburu said the Regional Commissioner’s Office, working with the Ministry of Minerals, had identified 26 areas showing indications of copper deposits for exploration licensing under the supervision of the Mining Commission.
The initiative aims to provide investors with opportunities to explore copper deposits and support the development of a mineral processing industry in the region.
He said implementation of the project would be coordinated by the Rukwa Regional Commissioner’s Office in collaboration with the Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA).
The proposed industrial park is expected to attract investment, promote local processing and value addition, create jobs and increase government revenue by encouraging more minerals to be processed locally.
Kumburu described Rukwa as a “Sleeping Giant of Mineral Resources”, noting that the region was endowed with more than 100 types of minerals.
These include metallic minerals such as copper, titanium, tin, iron and gold; gemstones such as ruby, emerald, garnet, aquamarine, tourmaline and kyanite; and industrial minerals including mica and feldspar.
The region also has deposits of helium, lithium, coal and construction minerals, presenting opportunities for exploration, investment and industrial development.
During his visit to the exhibition pavilion, CP Awadh commended the Mining Commission, particularly the Rukwa Regional Mining Office, for its efforts to conduct preliminary exploration and identify potential mineral investment opportunities.
He observed that many residents were still unaware of the region’s mineral wealth, underscoring the importance of raising public awareness about available resources and the economic opportunities they could generate.
The Youth Week celebrations are scheduled to conclude on October 14, 2026, alongside the climax of the Uhuru Torch Race.