PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan yesterday issued several directives geared towards stimulating the country’s economy, key being tightening measures to curb mineral smuggling.
The Head of State directed security organs to collaborate with the Ministry of Minerals to tighten the screws on mineral smugglers, who rob the country of much-needed revenue that could be used for development.
The mining sector contributed 7.3 per cent to the country’s GDP in 2021, up from 4.8 per cent in 2018 when the Tanzania Mineral Commission was established. Revenue increased from 346.2bn/- in 2018/19 to 624.6bn/- in the 2021/22 fiscal year.
During her one-day working visit to Geita region, President Samia addressed the public rally at Kalangalala grounds, warning that while smelters have already been built in the country, uncontrolled smuggling will cause these factories to run out of raw materials.
“The Ministry of Minerals needs to continue to collaborate with other government departments and security organs in Geita region, where there is a high concentration of mining activities in managing mining production and trading activities, as well as controlling mining smuggling,” President Samia said.
The President also directed the minerals ministry to conduct regular inspections to ensure that mineral exploration, refinery, smelting, and trading are carried out in accordance with the mining sector’s laws, regulations, and guidelines.
“When I was speaking with Sara Masasi, the owner of Geita Gold Refinery (GGR), she raised an issue of some taxes that impede their ability to operate properly, as an industry. I instruct the ministry to sit down with the Finance and Planning Ministry to listen to industry owners and see if they could address the nuisance taxes.
“We have been encouraging Tanzanians to invest in industries, and they have done so,” Ms Samia said. “Now, we must nurture them and push them to continue with the refining work, so that Tanzania can sell gold that is accepted in large quantities and quality outside the country,” the Head of State said.
President Samia also directed the minerals ministry to connect small-scale miners with the Geological Survey of Tanzania (GST) to obtain geological information about their licenced areas, including offering education on exploration, mining, and smelting issues to increase productivity in their mining activities.
She also directed the Ministry of State in the President’s Office, Regional Administration, and Local Government (PO-RALG) to prepare architectural design for the construction of petty traders’ offices in each region in the country, as the funds for the construction had already been disbursed.
“As I promised, the government has already disbursed 10m/- for each region for this purpose, and it is now up to PO-RALG to prepare architectural design and begin construction.
“Regional Commissioners should also allocate areas for petty traders to build their offices that should not be in remote areas,” she added.
President Samia also visited the Chato Zonal Referral Hospital, where she urged residents in the region and all Tanzanians to enrol in the health insurance fund once the universal health coverage scheme is implemented.
She also inaugurated the 220 kilowatt/33kV power receiving, cooling, and transmitting station in Mpomvu Geita town. She also officially inaugurated the Geita Gold Refinery (GGR).
She paid a one-day working visit to the region after arriving from Kagera at the gracing the climax of 2022 Uhuru Torch race. Today, Ms Samia will begin a four-day working tour of Kigoma region.
In response to inquiries from Members of Parliament from the region, she stated that the funds used to implement several development projects in the country come from taxpayers and loans obtained from various institutions both within and outside the country.
“Let me assure you that the existing projects in Geita region will be completed, including the water projects, the Geita-Kahama road covering 70 kilometres. We have already secured 90bn/- for the road project,” President Samia said.
Ms Samia stated that the government sees Geita as a region of opportunities, expressing her plan to make it a hub of economic activities within the country and the East African region. “So prepare yourself to fully exploit the opportunities,” she concluded.
“We are constructing the Kigongo-Busisi Bridge, which connects us with neighbouring countries; the government will ensure that this bridge is completed as soon as possible to facilitate economic activities in this area,” Ms Samia said.
Minister for Minerals Dr Doto Biteko stated that the ministry’s executives will continue to work on all instructions given to them in order to ensure that the mining sector grows and contributes 10 per cent to the GDP by 2025.
Geita Regional Commissioner Martin Shigella stated that this year, they received 40bn/-, which was spent in purchasing medical equipment.
“Through the 3bn/- mobile money transaction levy, we have built six health centres and have already begun providing basic services, bringing health services closer to the people,” he explained.
Since 2012, the region had not built a regional hospital, but under the sixth phase of the government, they have received 22bn/- and have started building a referral hospital at the regional headquarters in Geita town.
