MARA: Barrick Gold Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Mark Bristow has handed over new Kenyangi Primary School in Nyamongo, which was built by North Mara Gold Mine, to local government authorities.
Dr Bristow handed over the modern school buildings which included classrooms, teachers’ houses and an administration block on Sunday to Tarime District Council at a grand ceremony witnessed by local leaders, community elders, pupils and members of the Barrick North Mara Gold Mine Community Development Committee (CDC) .
The CEO remarked that investment in children’s education is significant in development and success of the African continent.
“It is a great pleasure and honour to be here today. Celebrating investment of this school is celebrating the future of Africa,’’ said the CEO of the giant multi-national mining company.
Earlier, Dr Bristow was accorded a warm reception colored by a popular traditional dance troupe called Nyakitali at Matongo, a village located near the gold mine.
Speaking on the auspicious occasion, Tarime Member of Parliament Mr Mwita Waitara commended North Mara Gold Mine for rebuilding the school which had been relocated from the village of Kenyangi to give way to mining operations.
ALSO READ:Barrick issues 2.3bn/- in royalties to Tarime villages
“We thank North Mara Gold Mine for giving us a new and modern school. We can proudly say this is now one of the best schools in Tarime District. The mine has done us a great favour,” Mr Waitara said, as part of his remarks, noting that the school is one of the biggest projects supported by the gold mine in the area.
The head teacher of the school, Ms Hadija Nusura, also thanked the gold mine for reconstructing the school which will now be accommodating hundreds of pupils hailing from nearby Matongo village.
“I thank North Mara Gold Mine for relocating this school. Indeed, this is a wonderful gift that all of us should be proud of. We ought to thank the gold mine for these beautiful buildings, ” she said.
Earlier, the President and CEO of Barrick Corporation who was accompanied by Country Manager, Dr Melkiory Ngido and North Mara Gold Mine General Manager, Mr Apolinary Lyambiko took a tour of the new school to get a clear view of the surroundings.
Dr Bristow was also given an opportunity to plant a tree on the school compound as a memory of his visit and gesture of the mining company’s commitment to environmental conservation.
He thanked the communities surrounding the gold mine, including traditional elders, for their concerted efforts which have significantly helped reduce the number of intruders at North Mara Gold Mine in recent months.
The numbers of intruders recorded at the gold mine went down from 381 in April to 61 in August this year, according to Dr Bristow.
“We have made enormous progress in dealing with the intrusions. The number of intruders dropped from 381 in April to 61 only in August. So we are on the right path,’’ Dr Bristow said and appealed for continued efforts that would make intrusions a thing of the past.
Barrick North Mara CDC Chairman, Mr Godfrey Kegoye chipped in by thanking the President and CEO of Barrick, describing him as someone who always honours his promises.
“ We thank Mark because if he promises, he definitely implements,” the CDC leader said, referring to numerous mega projects being supported by North Mara Gold Mine in the surrounding villages.
North Mara is operated by Barrick in partnership with the government of Tanzanian through Twiga Minerals.