Tanzania’s efforts to formalise small-scale mining, expand access to financing and improve mineral marketing systems have attracted interest from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with a delegation of Congolese miners visiting the country to study its approach.
The 17-member delegation from the Federation of Small-Scale Miners of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FESOCOMIC) said Tanzania’s initiatives offer important lessons for improving the productivity and economic contribution of small-scale miners.
Speaking in Dodoma on November 3, 2026, FESOCOMIC chairman Alex Murusi said the delegation had come to understand how Tanzania was organising and supporting small-scale mining through policies, institutions and targeted development programmes.
He said the federation had been following Tanzania’s efforts to formalise the sector, strengthen mineral trading systems, curb smuggling and improve miners’ access to loans and grants.
The delegation was also interested in government plans to expand detailed mineral exploration, which could help small-scale miners access reliable geological information and identify areas with commercially viable deposits.
“Tanzania has become a good example in Africa in empowering small-scale miners economically and technologically,” Mr Murusi said.
He said the combination of formalisation, institutional support, access to markets and investment in mining technology had made Tanzania an important reference point for other African countries seeking to develop their small-scale mining industries.
The delegation commended the Ministry of Minerals and its institutions, including the Mining Commission, State Mining Corporation (STAMICO) and the Geological Survey of Tanzania (GST), for implementing programmes targeting miners' skills, technology and access to mining opportunities.
Among the initiatives highlighted were geological surveys, training programmes, small-scale mining licences and the provision of 15 drilling rigs targeting young people and women under the Mining for a Brighter Tomorrow (MBT) programme.
Tanzania’s mineral marketing arrangements and designated buying centres also attracted the delegation’s attention, alongside the Bank of Tanzania’s purchase of 35 tonnes of gold.
The Congolese representatives further welcomed government efforts to facilitate access to credit, describing financing as an important requirement for enabling small-scale miners to invest in equipment, improve production and expand their operations.
The visit comes as small-scale mining continues to play a growing role in Tanzania’s mining economy, particularly through its contribution to government revenue and employment.
Assistant Commissioner for Minerals responsible for Local Content, Terence Ngole, said the contribution of small-scale miners to government revenue from the mining sector had increased to 40 per cent.
He said the wider mining industry now contributes 10.3 per cent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), reflecting its growing importance to the national economy.
The figures underline the increasing significance of small-scale mining, while highlighting the importance of policies that enable miners to operate formally, access markets and benefit from the country's mineral resources.
During their stay, the delegation is expected to visit mining projects, mineral processing centres and beneficiation industries to gain practical knowledge of Tanzania’s mineral value chain.
The visits will provide an opportunity to examine how the country organises mining operations, mineral processing, marketing and value addition.
The exchange is expected to strengthen knowledge-sharing between the two countries, particularly on approaches to formalising small-scale mining and ensuring that local communities and miners benefit more from mineral resources.