Barrick excels in offering jobs to local employees

DODOMA: MINISTER for Minerals Antony Mavunde has hailed Barrick North Mara Mine in Tarime District, Mara Region, for fully implementing the Mining (Local Content) Act (Chapter 123) and its Mining (Local Content) Regulations, 2018 by prioritising Tanzanians in employment.

Speaking to reporters in Dodoma recently, Mavunde said North Mara Mine had in practice provided Tanzanians with 100 per cent employment opportunities and contributed to a reduction in the unemployment problem in the country.

“Leaders and members of the management team of North Mara Mine are all Tanzanians. This aligns with the government’s strategy to ensure the Mining (Local Content) Act and its Regulations are fully implemented and doors are open for Tanzanians to participate in the country’s mining sector,” he explained.

He said the government would ensure Tanzanians fully participated in the entire mining sector chain and open more doors for Tanzanians to get jobs in various tenders within the mining sector.

“In mining projects, we have witnessed an increase in local employment opportunities from 6,668 out of 7,003 jobs (equivalent to 95 per cent) in 2018, to 18,853 out of 19,356 jobs (equivalent to 97 per cent) by December 2024,” he explained.

He said in positions that required experience due to global technological advances, there had been a legal procedure for Tanzanians to succeed positions held by expatriates.

“Barrick through its North Mara Mine is an example of companies whose all top management positions operating at a high level are held by Tanzanians,” he added.

The minister also officially announced a list of 20 goods and services to be provided by mines through 100 per cent Tanzanian-owned companies, aiming at increasing the scope of Tanzanians’ participation in the mining sector.

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He said the strategy was the implementation of the directives of Her Excellence President Samia Suluhu Hassan to ensure Tanzanians fully participated in the entire mining sector chain after the amendments to the Rules for the Participation of Tanzanians in the Mining Sector of 2018 were made.

‘‘For the first phase on November 14, 2025, the Mineral Commission announced a list of goods and services to be provided by companies owned by 100 per cent Tanzanian companies, and for the first time the Mineral Commission would announce through Regulation 13A,’’ said Mavunde.

Among other things, he talked about the procurement of goods and services by Tanzanian companies, saying they had increased from 1.85tri/- out of a total procurement of goods and services of 3.01tri/- (equivalent to 62 per cent) in 2018, to 4.41tri/- (equivalent to 88 per cent) of 5tri/- of all procurement made in 2024.

He also said the government continued to broaden the scope for Tanzanians to participate in the mining sector and increase the benefits of mineral resources by setting aside a special investment area at former Barrick Buzwagi Gold Mine, measuring 1,331 acres, for the construction of factories to produce mining products, saying six factories had already been constructed, while 15 factory owners had expressed interest in constructing factories in the area.

Minister Mavunde urged the private sector in Tanzania to utilise the product supply opportunity and the provision of services to mines to ensure a significant amount of money remained in Tanzania and stimulate the country’s economic growth.

He urged all investors to comply with the Mining Act and the implementation of the Mining (Local Content) Rules for the participation of Tanzanians in the mining sector. He also urged Tanzanians to utilise opportunities available in mining projects to address employment challenges for the benefit of individuals and the nation.