MBT initiative takes Tanzania’s small-scale mining to the next level

ROMBO: THE Tanzanian government announced that it will continue to cancel unused mining and research licenses to ensure that mineral resources fully benefit Tanzanians and remove obstacles that delay the sector’s development.

Speaking during his visit to inspect mining activities in Rombo District, Kilimanjaro Region, the Deputy Minister of Minerals, Dr Steven Kiruswa said the government is proud of the great strides being made by Small-scale Miners in the country, including those who mine Pozzolana Minerals and those who cut volcanic bricks in Holili Ward, a step that continues to show the growth rate of the mining sector day by day.

He emphasized that the Mining Sector has become a pillar that stimulates and connects other sectors, including construction, industry, trade, agriculture, water, and other areas of the economy.

Dr Kiruswa said that the government, through the Ministry of Minerals, has initiated the Mining for A Brighter Tomorrow – MBT Program aimed at empowering youth and women involved in small-scale mining by providing them with mining licenses and modern equipment to improve their production and increase productivity.

“This program is part of the Government’s commitment to ensuring that small-scale miners make progress and become a broader part of the national economy,” said Dr Kiruswa.

On the other hand, the Rombo District Commissioner,  Raymond Mwangwala said that the presence of Pozzolana minerals has helped promote the District in parallel with increasing the income of the Rombo District Council while the youth benefit from employment through the presence of these minerals derived from volcanoes and volcanic rocks used to make strong bricks.

For his part, the Kilimanjaro Regional Resident Mining Officer, Engineer Abel Madaha, has explained that revenue collections from the Mining Sector in Kilimanjaro Region have reached 1.63bn/- from July to November 2025, which is 45 percent of the annual target of collecting 4.2bn/- for the 2025/2026 financial year.

“The move indicates a good response from miners and the ongoing effective management by the Ministry of Minerals to ensure that the country’s resources contribute fully to national development.

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Pozzolana is a type of construction mineral originating from clay or volcanic ash, which, when mixed with lime and water, forms high-strength cement and is widely used in cement factories in the country.