Chunya artisan strikes 20bn/-gold
MBEYA : A SMALL-SCALE miner in Chunya District, Mbeya Region has become an overnight millionaire after selling 111.83kgs of gold worth 20.11bn/-.
Mr Aidan Msigwa, who owns a Primary Mining Licence (PML), a Prospecting Licence (PL) and a mineral processing machine, sold the gold early this week at Chunya Mineral market in the district.
Chunya Resident Minerals Officer, Eng Laurent Mayalla said the government earned a total of 1.2bn/-, which includes royalties amounting to 201m/- for inspection fees and 60.34m/- tax to the Council.
He also added that the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) collected a total of 402m/- from the business.
“Msigwa used a mercury-assisted method to extract the gold, as the rock indicated it was of ore quality. I commend him for the cooperation he demonstrated with the Regional Mining Officer (RMO)’s office in Chunya and other institutions throughout the entire process of obtaining and selling the gold. The whole process followed the laws and regulations governing mineral trade,” said Eng Mayalla.
He asked other artisans to emulated Mr Msigwa’s patriotic action in the mining businesses, saying the move will help to curb the smuggling of minerals. He said the obtained revenues will assist the government in improving other essential services.
The Chunya Mineral Market is the second to be established in the country. It was launched in May 2019, following the first major mineral market in Geita, which was established in March 2019.
Currently, there are a total of 43 mineral markets nationwide and 105 small purchasing centres for minerals. The Chunya mining region ranks second in gold production among small-scale miners.
According to a report from the Chunya Minerals Office, mining activities in the district are largely carried out by small-scale miners, most of whom use substandard tools and produce using mercury.
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Presenting the budget in Parliament in April, this year, Minister for Minerals, Mr Anthony Mavunde said the mining economy in the country is largely derived from gold, which contributes approximately 80 per cent of the revenue generated from mineral resources.
In June, 2020, a small-scale miner in Mirerani, Manyara Region, Mr Saniniu Laizer earned 7.74bn/- after selling to the state the two largest tanzanite stones ever found.
The dark violet-blue gemstones, each about the size of a forearm, were discovered in one of the tanzanite mines which are surrounded by a wall to control cross-border smuggling of the gemstones.
