Journalists urged to promote artisanal mining 

Media practitioners in the Lake Zone regions have been urged to report cross-cutting news about artisanal and small scale mining to promote the growth of the sector.

Executive Secretary of the Foundations for Artisanal Mining Development (FADev), Eng Theonestina Mwasha made the made the call  this week while closing a two-day training for the journalists held in Mwanza.

She said despite the efforts being undertaken by the government to enhance artisanal miners, journalists have a role to play in educating the group so that it can increase productivity.

Eng  Mwasha  insisted that  the efforts being undertaken by  the government to  transform  the mining sector  should also be complemented  by the media  by educating  miners, including     pushing for mining policy review.

A lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam, Dr Abel Kinyondo said, if media highlights and promotes the economic impacts of artisanal mining both to individuals and country’s economic growth, it will encourage public and private institutions to invest in the subsector, enabling  the group to grow.

Mwanza Press Club (MPC) chairman, Mr Edwin Soko admitted that journalists have a role to play in changing policies governing the sector.

Mr Soko said the media is an important pillar for achieving sectoral changes and if the Ministry of Minerals, FADev and other institutions continue to involve them, it will help miners to get accurate and timely information about the sector.