The Minerals Minister, Anthony Mavunde, laid out a plan for small-scale miners in Mwakitolyo. He said President Samia Suluhu Hassan ordered a new gold processing plant built there. The facility will use the Carbon-in-Pulp method. It should handle over a hundred tons of material each day. This plant is meant for thousands of local miners. Mavunde explained that the current lack of processing forces miners to sell raw ore cheaply. He spoke at a public meeting in Shinyanga Region. Miners there complained about slow licenses, high fees, and equipment shortages.
The minister announced a productivity package alongside the plant. The government bought fifteen drilling rigs. Two of these are for youth and women miners. One rig destined for Mwakitolyo can drill deep holes. Subsidized geological services will lower drilling costs significantly. This move aims to replace guesswork with actual data. Mavunde also targeted problems with licensing. He warned about brokers who hoard licenses without mining. The Mining Commission will purge its database of these inactive holders. Many exploration permits have already been canceled. All such licenses in Shinyanga must be reviewed soon. He clarified rules on technical service agreements to stop foreign control of local mining rights. On-site license issuance and more crushers for women and youth were also promised.
Regional Commissioner Mboni Mhita told officials to fix boundary disputes quickly. He said women should get priority for mining chances. District Commissioner Julius Mtatiro ordered a review of local miner levies. Any fee harming productivity must go. During the meeting, young miners reported a gold find at a place called Mlima Namba 6. They asked for that village land to be included in licensing. Women miners highlighted their ongoing struggles to get licenses and proper equipment. The overall push, according to Mavunde, is to formalize the sector. The goal is shifting miners from informal digging to a real industry with better safety and income.
The minister announced a productivity package alongside the plant. The government bought fifteen drilling rigs. Two of these are for youth and women miners. One rig destined for Mwakitolyo can drill deep holes. Subsidized geological services will lower drilling costs significantly. This move aims to replace guesswork with actual data. Mavunde also targeted problems with licensing. He warned about brokers who hoard licenses without mining. The Mining Commission will purge its database of these inactive holders. Many exploration permits have already been canceled. All such licenses in Shinyanga must be reviewed soon. He clarified rules on technical service agreements to stop foreign control of local mining rights. On-site license issuance and more crushers for women and youth were also promised.
Regional Commissioner Mboni Mhita told officials to fix boundary disputes quickly. He said women should get priority for mining chances. District Commissioner Julius Mtatiro ordered a review of local miner levies. Any fee harming productivity must go. During the meeting, young miners reported a gold find at a place called Mlima Namba 6. They asked for that village land to be included in licensing. Women miners highlighted their ongoing struggles to get licenses and proper equipment. The overall push, according to Mavunde, is to formalize the sector. The goal is shifting miners from informal digging to a real industry with better safety and income.
