CCM cadre stresses value addition to raw minerals

ARUSHA: RETIRED Member of National Executive Committee of Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) in Mtwara Region, Mr Lucas Millassi has advised the government to ensure that at least 25 per cent of some minerals such as iron mined from Ludewa Iron Project and coal from Mchuchuma Coal Project in Njombe Region is processed for domestic use.

He said the 25 per cent of the minerals should be constitutionalized so that they can be processed by adding value in the country.

He made the statement over the phone while speaking to Daily News over the weekend.

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Mr Millassi said that since Tanzania implements some major strategic projects like coal and iron projects, it is better for at least a quarter or half of such important minerals to be processed and added value for domestic market instead of exporting.

“We have been starting some strategic projects in the mineral sector without explicitly stating how locals can benefit from it apart from employment opportunities,” he said.

Giving an example, he said: ‘We want to mine iron in Ludewa, but to what extent people in the country have been prepared to use it? Before we think of exporting it let’s see first how it can be processed and used in the country,” he said.

“As we plan to implement the projects in Ludewa and Njombe, I advise the government to come up with a strategy through Vocational Education and Training Authority (VETA) colleges by offering courses on value addition on iron so that at least 25 per cent of the iron can be used in Tanzania,” he added.

According to him, such investment in VETA will help to recruit Tanzanian specialists in iron processing and value addition industry, a move that will save costs of importation of iron products.