SHINYANGA: THE government is planning to amend the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) regulations to make them more stakeholder-friendly, ensuring that development projects are effectively implemented and sustainable.
This was announced during a one-day training held recently in Bulyanhulu, Kahama in Shinyanga Region .
During the training, the Mining Commission Director of Mineral Audit and Trade, Mr Venance Kasiki, told Barrick Twiga Minerals Corporation staff and Mining Commission officials that the commission would organise workshops, forums, and seminars to engage all stakeholders in discussions aimed at developing regulations that benefit both local communities and mining companies across the country.
“There are shortcomings in the current regulations that make it difficult for mining firms to effectively deliver services to communities near mining sites.
The government has identified these challenges and wants all stakeholders to participate in the review process,” he noted.
Mr Kasiki said that the government is revising the CSR regulations to ensure local communities benefit more from CSR initiatives.
“We want to engage local people from the grassroots level, as well as mining companies, to ensure that development projects such as water wells, roads, education and health infrastructure are implemented within specific timeframes,” he added.
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He also said that by the end of December this year, the government plans to introduce a digital procurement system for the mining sector, replacing the current manual system.
“The goal is to speed up the procurement process for local content and CSR implementation,” he said.
Furthermore, the government plans to incorporate local content and CSR education into higher education curricula to raise awareness of the positive impact these initiatives can have on local communities.
Mr Victor Lule, the Supplier Manager at Bulyanhulu Mine, noted that the mine allocates approximately 1.2 million US dollars (about 3bn/-) annually for CSR activities as part of the company’s policy and commitment to supporting local communities.
“We offer training programmes and since most local people are entrepreneurs, we teach them how to utilise opportunities in the mining sector and how to start doing business with the mining company,” he said.
Mr Lule also said that since 2020, over 200 productivity projects focused on education and health have been implemented, including malaria prevention education for 14 villages.
At the workshop’s closing, Mining Commission Chairperson Janet Lekashingo said that the review of CSR regulations would be part of a five-year socioeconomic development plan aimed at supporting CSR implementation in local communities. “Today’s workshop is a testament to that commitment.
It is designed to equip Barrick Twiga Minerals Corporation with the tools and insights needed to meet the requirements of the Mining Act, Local Content Regulations and CSR mandates,” she said.
Lekashingo explained that the collaborative effort would focus on reviewing the company’s achievements, addressing challenges and strengthening ongoing initiatives to ensure sustainable mining practices in local communities.
She also noted that the CSR regulation review would empower local communities to determine their own needs and choose the most suitable projects for their development.
