Tanzania unveils move to ensure natural resources benefit all citizens

DAR ES SALAAM: THE Ministry of Constitution and Legal Affairs has underscored the importance of recognizing and properly managing the nation’s wealth and natural resources as per laws enacted in 2017, to ensure these resources benefit all Tanzanians equitably and sustainably.

Speaking today at the 49th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (Sabasaba), Government Attorney and Director of the National Wealth and Natural Resources Monitoring Unit, Neema Mwanga, said before 2017, Tanzania lacked a specific legal framework for identifying and managing natural resources as part of the country’s national wealth.

“Our laws define wealth and natural resources as all the natural endowments our country is blessed with,” Mwanga said. “These include natural gas, mountains, valleys, plains, volcanoes, and everything that exists naturally beneath the earth’s surface. All of these are part of the nation’s wealth.”

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She explained that some resources, such as stones, have inherent economic value even without further processing, while others like natural gas and land require development or enhancement to yield greater benefits for the nation.

Mwanga further noted that the country’s wealth is not limited to non-living resources but also includes living resources such as wildlife, fish, and fertile land. She stressed the need for robust management of these resources to ensure future generations benefit from this natural heritage.

The Ministry continues to raise public awareness through the trade fair, educating citizens about their rights and responsibilities in protecting and conserving the country’s natural resources.