📍Ruvuma: The establishment of official mineral markets along with the use of a guideline price system in Ruvuma region has been cited as significantly reducing mineral smuggling while increasing government revenue and benefiting small-scale miners.
Ruvuma Region currently has two official mineral markets including the Songea Urban Gold and Gemstone Market and the Tunduru Gold and Gemstone Market, which were officially launched by the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan on September 26, 2024.
The Resident Mineral Officer of Ruvuma Region, Engineer Alphonce Bikulamchi, said the achievements are due to improvements made by the Government in the management of the mineral trade through official markets with transparency and commercial competition.
He said that before the establishment of these markets, some miners lacked official places to sell their minerals, which encouraged illegal trade and mineral smuggling, which deprived the Government of revenue and forced small-scale miners to sell their minerals at unprofitable prices.
“Miners now receive accurate information on the indicative prices of their minerals, which has increased transparency, eliminated loopholes for fraud and increased confidence in the mining trade”, said Engineer Bikulamchi.
He said the presence of buyers from within and outside the country in these markets has increased price competition and enabled miners to sell their minerals at a fair price.
He said the Government will continue to improve the mining business environment by strengthening market management and providing education to miners to ensure that the sector continues to contribute to the growth of the national economy as well as the development of the people.
According to Engineer Bikulamchi, the move has also increased the participation of small-scale miners in the formal economy and helped control acts of mineral smuggling in Ruvuma region.
