Barrick dishes 70bn/- to boost education
MARA: BARRICK Gold Corporation has dished out 70bn/- through ‘the Barrick-Twiga Future Forward Education’ programme to improve the infrastructure in various secondary schools.
The money is set to be channeled to the construction of dormitories and making desks to enable students to study in friendly environments.
Barrick’s Country Manager Mr Melkiory Ngido said the programme which is under the President’s Office Regional Administrative and Local Government (PO-RALG) is part of the company’s initiative to support the education sector.
He was speaking to members of the parliamentary committee for Energy and Minerals who visited the company yesterday.
He added that the Barrick through the North Mara and Bulyanhulu mines invested more than 6tri/- in the country where 3tri/- has been paid in taxes and dividends since 2019 after it was handed over the operation license in partnership with the Government of Tanzania through the Twiga Minerals Company.
The parliamentary committee visited the North Mara gold mine in Tarime district and advised on the need to improve the mining sector for the betterment of majority Tanzanians. The visit led by its Chairman Mr David Mathayo aimed at witnessing the operations conducted and other infrastructure within the mining site.
Among the areas visited by the committee within the mining site include the sewage area and the gold refinery. The committee also witnessed some of social projects implemented by using the company’s social corporate responsibility (CSR) funds in the villages that surround the North Mara mine.
“You have changed the environment of this mine within a short time…it is quite clear that you have been taking a good care of the environment in this area. The committee is pleased,” said Mr Mathayo. He added: “I would like to urge you to continue with this good job, protecting environment is crucial for the people’s wellbeing”. Some of the projects that have been implemented under the SCR are construction of Matongo secondary school, the Nyangoto large water project, and the agricultural business run by the youth in Matongo village.
On the implementation of local content, the committee said the company has been able to employ a good number of Tanzanians including natives living near the mining site.
Moreover, the committee ordered the regional government to ensure security at the mining site and make sure youth who always storm the company’s premises to steal stones and mineral sand are stopped.
“We are aware of people who always invade the mining site with swords to steal mineral sand and stones, we want our security organs to stop these people, the company must be enabled to operate in conducive environment,” he noted.
On his part, the Deputy Minister for Minerals Mr Steven Kiruswa called on the stakeholders in the mining sector to comply with the laws and regulations set by the government.
