Experts: Align mining boom with social benefits

They noted that despite gold exports reaching $3.9 billion by April 2025, which is equivalent to 48 percent of non-traditional exports, communities in mining regions remain on the margins.

Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) featured prominently in the discussions.

The sub-sector now contributes about 30 percent of Tanzania’s gold production and nearly 40 percent of mining revenues, employing more than one million people.

Yet it faces persistent challenges ranging from mercury contamination and unsafe working conditions to land disputes and licensing barriers.

“ASM sustains livelihoods, but the risks to health, safety, and the environment remain immense. Stronger alignment of Tanzania’s laws with international standards is urgent,” said the session moderator, Ms Lucy Shao.

Tanzania Chamber of Mines Chairman, Mr Filbert Rweyemamu, stressed that no mining activity can commence without adhering to four key laws: the Environmental Management Act (2004), the Mining Act (2010, amended in 2017), the Local Government Act (1982), and the Land Act (1999).

“In simple terms, no mining project in Tanzania should proceed without passing through these frameworks, including proper community engagement,” he said, adding that compliance was the foundation of accountability and intergenerational equity.

The Tanzania Women Miners Association (TAWOMA) Secretary General, Ms Salma Said, said small-scale miners are increasingly adopting safer practices.

“ASMs have been trained on how to protect themselves from health hazards. The government is also encouraging investors to deploy safer technology to safeguard miners. Challenges remain, but progress is significant,” she said.

HakiRasilimali’s Strategy and Partnership Assistant, Ms Irene Mosha, underscored the importance of collective responsibility.

“The mining sector is vital to our nation. We must all work together to uphold the law and ensure extraction happens in an environment that is safe, fair, and beneficial to communities,” she said.

From the government side, the Assistant Commissioner for Minerals in charge of Local Content and CSR, Terence Thomas, clarified that licensing and compensation follow legal frameworks.

“The Ministry of Minerals is the authority that issues mining licences. Issues of compensation and relocation are implemented strictly in line with national laws,” he noted.

Speakers further warned that failure to comply with international frameworks such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Due Diligence Guidelines, and the Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) Standard could lock Tanzania out of global gold markets, where demand for responsibly sourced minerals is rising.

The dialogue called for clearer legal frameworks aligned with global standards, greater transparency in contracts, simplified licensing for ASM, and reinvestment of mining revenues into schools, water, health, and infrastructure for host communities.

While Tanzania is Africa’s fourth-largest gold producer, the session concluded that true success lies not in export figures but in how the sector “protects people, restores the environment, and uplifts communities.”