Tanzania to empower youths with 'Mining for Better Tomorrow' initiative

Arusha. In a move to foster a more inclusive and sustainable mining sector, the government has announced the launch of a new initiative, Mining for Better Tomorrow (MBT), aimed at involving the youth in the mining industry and ensuring they benefit economically from its growth.

The strategy, which was unveiled by the Deputy Minister for Mining, Dr Steven Kiruswa during the Ministry of Mining's Staff Council meeting in Arusha seeks to equip young people with the necessary knowledge and resources to engage in mineral exploration, extraction, processing, valuation, and trading activities.

“We’ve made significant strides in developing the mining sector, but more needs to be done to ensure that people of all ages, especially the youth, can benefit from it,” said Dr. Kiruswa, emphasizing the importance of engaging young people to realize the full potential of the sector. He added that the MBT strategy will provide job opportunities, training, and resources to empower the youth, creating avenues for economic growth and participation.

The initiative aligns with Tanzania’s Vision 2030 framework, under the slogan “Mining is Life and Wealth,” which aims to educate citizens about the sector and enable them to take advantage of available opportunities.

Dr Kiruswa also announced plans to expand the Ministry’s mineral research coverage, aiming to survey up to 50 percent of the country’s total area by 2030, an increase from the current 16%.

The expanded research will help identify mineral-rich areas, providing opportunities for small, medium, and large-scale miners, and ultimately contributing to national economic growth.

He underscored the significance of Tanzania’s rich mineral resources, particularly strategic minerals such as graphite, nickel, cobalt, and lithium, which are in high demand due to their crucial role in clean energy production. "These minerals position Tanzania as a key player in the global clean energy sector," Dr Kiruswa said.

Addressing the staff, Dr Kiruswa encouraged them to contribute innovative ideas during the meeting to improve the Ministry’s efficiency in achieving its objectives. “We must work together to improve our operational efficiency and contribute to the Ministry’s tasks for the 2024/2025 fiscal year,” he stated, urging staff to adhere to public service ethics and remain focused on the Ministry's goals.

The Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Msafiri Mbibo, provided updates on the Ministry’s progress, reporting that the mining sector’s contribution to Tanzania’s GDP reached 9.0 percent in 2023, with a growth rate of 11.3 percent in the same year. He also revealed that revenue collections directed to the treasury had increased by 42.04 percent, rising from Sh486.30 billion in 2023/2024 to Sh690.76 billion between July 2024 and February 2025.

Mr Mbibo further shared that the Ministry is nearing the completion of a special survey and geological mapping of Zanzibar’s islands, with plans to focus on enhancing revenue collection and expanding the mining sector’s economic contribution in the upcoming fiscal year.

The Chairperson of the Tanzania Union of Government and Health Employees (TUGHE) from the council of workers in the mining sector, Mr Joseph Ngulumwa emphasized the importance of discussing the 2025/2026 budget and suggested that administrative staff visit large-scale mining operations to better understand the sector's role in the economy. He also highlighted a staffing shortage in the procurement department, urging the government to address this gap to keep up with the sector’s growth.

“The shortage of staff in the procurement department is a major challenge, and we request the government to consider increasing staffing to match the sector's pace and efficiency,” Ngulumwa said.