DODOMA: The National Mine Closure Committee has granted the mining company Polygold 30 days to complete improvements to its Mine Closure Plan.
The Committee has also directed Polygold to meet with the Musoma District Mine Closure Committee (DMCC) within two weeks to reach an agreement on development projects that will benefit the local community surrounding the mine once mining operations cease.
This measure aims to ensure that the company’s Mine Closure Plan provides a detailed outline of “Alternative Livelihood Projects”—initiatives designed to enable the community to continue generating income and building a sustainable economy even after the mine stops production.
Speaking on November 5, 2026, at the Mining Commission’s offices in Dodoma, the Committee Chairperson—who also serves as the country’s Chief Inspector of Mines, Engineer Hamisi Kamando—stated that the company must collaborate with the District Committee to identify projects that meet the community’s needs, determine the associated costs, and establish how they will be implemented.
He explained that these directives were issued after the National Committee reviewed the Mine Closure Plan submitted by Polygold and identified shortcomings, particularly regarding community development projects and the costs involved in their execution. Engineer Kamando stated that the company, in collaboration with the Musoma District Mine Closure Committee, must conclude discussions within two weeks—starting from November 5, 2026—and submit proposals for a project that will directly benefit the communities surrounding the mine.
He urged the company to ensure that the costs for implementing community projects are incorporated into the overall mine closure budget, while also refining the comprehensive plan and submitting it to the Mining Commission within 30 days for further action.
He noted that the management of Polygold has pledged to carry out the directives issued by the Committee and to complete the revisions to the mine closure plan within the stipulated timeframe.
The National Mine Closure Committee has emphasized that all mining companies must ensure their mine closure plans include alternative economic projects for surrounding communities, so that local residents do not lose their sources of income once mining operations cease. The committee comprises members from the Vice President’s Office, the Ministry of Minerals, the Ministry of Water, the Office of the Chief Government Chemist, the National Land Use Planning Commission, the University of Dar es Salaam, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, the Office of the Musoma District Commissioner, the Musoma District Council, and the Office of the Resident Mines Officer for the Mara Region.
