Dodoma: The government through the Mining Commission has continued to emphasize the implementation of laws and regulations in the mining sector, asking license holders to ensure that mining activities benefit Tanzanians and protect the national interest.
Speaking in Dodoma at a meeting of license holders, the Commissioner of the Mining Commission, Engineer Theonestina Mwasha said the Government’s priority is to empower native license holders while emphasizing on foreign investors to follow all investment procedures before starting their activities.
He said that it is necessary for a foreign investor to obtain approval through the Mining Officer of the relevant area before starting any activity along with having the special expertise required in the sector.
“It is the responsibility of the license holder to protect the dignity and interests of Tanzanians in mining areas. It is a shame to see a Tanzanian being abused in a license owned by a Tanzanian himself. The rules are there, follow them”, said Engineer Mwasha
He said license holders should comply with all the conditions of their licenses, including appointing a manager capable of managing mining operations and ensuring the safety of mine workers.
Also, Mhandisi Mwasha has criticized the behavior of some natives to bring in foreign investors without following official procedures through the Mining Offices, stressing that all contracts should be legal and managed by the relevant authorities.
“Foreign investors should respect the traditions and customs of Tanzanians, and also make sure they have experts who can communicate in Kiswahili and English. The government is there to protect and defend the natives”, he said.
Lawyer for the Mining Commission, Hadija Ramadhan said the Commission continues to provide education to license holders about the principles of technical assistance in accordance with the Mining Law, Chapter 123.
He explained that the owners of small mining licenses are allowed to enter into technical support agreements with facilitators but those agreements must be official and confirmed by the mining authorities.
He added that the facilitator is required to provide support in the areas of exploration, drilling, use of machinery and technology as well as filtration, while all equipment is listed in the contract and remains with the license holder in case the contract is terminated.
Commissioner of the Mining Commission, Dr. Theresia Numbi has emphasized the importance of license holders to understand contracts before entering into partnerships, encouraging them to use legal experts.
“A contract is a very important document. Find a lawyer to help you interpret it before signing it. It is better to pay less now than to suffer a loss later,” he said.
He said it is important for stakeholders in the mining sector to hold regular evaluation sessions to monitor the income, challenges and success of their activities.
