MWANZA: FOR decades, thousands of Tanzania’s artisanal and smallscale miners have worked under difficult conditions despite making a significant contribution to local economies and supporting countless households. Many operated without formal licences, exposing them to eviction, disputes over mining claims and limited access to finance, training and modern equipment.
That situation is steadily changing as the government intensifies efforts to formalise the sector through the issuance of mining licences.
The reforms are opening opportunities for women and youths to participate legally in mineral extraction while strengthening environmental management, improving tax collection and increasing the sector’s contribution to the national economy.
A major milestone in this process was recently recorded in Mhande Ward, Kwimba District, Mwanza Region, where Minister for Minerals Antony Mavunde handed mining licences to 30 groups of women and youths from Kwimba and Misungwi districts.
The licences represent the first phase of a broader programme aimed at empowering local communities to participate legally and productively in mining while ensuring responsible management of the country’s mineral resources.
Speaking during the event, Mr Mavunde reaffirmed the government’s commitment to continue issuing licences to qualified groups, saying the initiative forms part of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s broader vision of enabling Tanzanians to benefit directly from the country’s abundant mineral wealth.
He said the government has reviewed mining areas nationwide and taken action against licence holders who failed to develop their concessions, allowing productive use of valuable mineral resources.
One notable example is the Mhande mining area, covering about 5,441 hectares. Previously held by a single investor, the area remained undeveloped for years. The government has since repossessed and redistributed it to small-scale miners, creating new economic opportunities for hundreds of local residents.
Mr Mavunde urged beneficiaries to use the licences responsibly by increasing production while observing mining regulations, workplace safety and environmental conservation. He also announced that the State Mining Corporation (STAMICO) will deploy mining equipment to Mhande to help miners improve productivity, enhance safety and adopt more efficient extraction methods.
The government’s intervention reflects the growing recognition of artisanal and small-scale mining as an important pillar of Tanzania’s economy.
Beyond generating employment for hundreds of thousands of people, the subsector contributes significantly to gold production and supports businesses in transport, trade, equipment supply and other services linked to mining activities.
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Formalising the sector has therefore become a central component of government policy aimed at eliminating illegal mining, improving transparency, increasing public revenue and creating decent employment opportunities.
Mwanza Regional Resident Mining Officer Nyaisara Mgaya said the licensing exercise attracted overwhelming interest from local communities. By July 13 this year, his office had received 228 licence applications from prospective miners.
Following legal and technical evaluations, 30 groups successfully met all requirements during the first phase. The successful applicants comprise organised groups of women and youth expected to directly benefit about 300 people. Mr Mgaya said the initiative not only promotes legal mining but also strengthens environmental management and increases government revenue through formal operations.
Equally important, the programme expands opportunities for women and young people who have historically participated in mining but often lacked access to legal mining rights. Kwimba District Commissioner Ngwilabuzu Ludigija praised President Samia Suluhu Hassan for implementing reforms that continue opening the mining sector to ordinary Tanzanians.
He urged licence holders to comply fully with mining laws, protect the environment and ensure mining activities contribute to sustainable community development. For many beneficiaries, receiving a mining licence represents far more than legal documentation.
It provides security, recognition and confidence to invest in their future. Secretary of the Smallscale Miners Association in Misungwi District, Bahati Boniface, said many miners previously worked under constant fear of being labelled illegal occupants or intruders in mining areas.
He explained that formal licences now provide legal protection and official recognition, enabling miners to operate with greater confidence. Mr Boniface also commended the government’s efforts through STAMICO to strengthen miners’ technical capacity by providing training on modern mining techniques while encouraging operators to abandon superstitious beliefs that have sometimes influenced mining practices.
However, he noted that limited access to finance remains one of the sector’s biggest challenges. Without sufficient capital, many miners struggle to purchase modern machinery capable of improving productivity, increasing efficiency and reducing occupational risks.
He appealed to banks and other financial institutions to recognise licensed miners as legitimate entrepreneurs deserving access to credit and investment financing. His concerns were echoed by fellow miner Peter Charles from Misungwi District, who said formal licensing has restored confidence among miners by allowing them to operate without fear of eviction or legal disputes.
He believes legal recognition will encourage greater investment, improve production and create more employment opportunities within local communities. For women, the reforms carry even greater significance. Zaphrani Sawaya from Kwimba District said obtaining a licence will enable her to expand mining activities, improve her family’s income and contribute more to local government revenue.
Her experience reflects the increasing participation of women in Tanzania’s mining industry, a sector once dominated almost exclusively by men. Chairperson of Women Miners in Mwanza Region, Helen Paulin, said mining has transformed the economic lives of many women by enabling them to educate their children, improve household welfare and support family livelihoods.
She nevertheless pointed out that many women miners still face shortages of modern equipment and appealed for continued government and development partner support to improve productivity.
Similarly, Secretary of Small-scale Miners in Kwimba District, Brighton Martin, described the licensing programme as a major step towards expanding employment, stimulating local economies and increasing mining’s contribution to national development.
Mining specialists observe that formalising artisanal and small-scale mining generates benefits extending well beyond increased production.
Licensed miners are more likely to comply with environmental regulations, adopt safer mining methods, participate in technical training and contribute taxes and royalties that finance public services. Formalisation also reduces conflicts over mining rights, strengthens transparency and creates a more stable investment environment capable of attracting additional public and private investment.
As Tanzania continues implementing reforms to unlock the full potential of its mineral sector, initiatives such as the Mhande licensing programme demonstrate the government’s determination to ensure local communities share more directly in the country’s mineral wealth.
For hundreds of miners in Kwimba and Misungwi, the newly issued licences represent far more than permission to extract minerals. They symbolise dignity, security and opportunity.
With legal recognition, improved access to training and stronger government support, small-scale miners are increasingly positioned to transform natural resources into sustainable livelihoods while contributing more meaningfully to economic growth, employment and national development.
The reforms also reinforce an important message: when local communities are empowered to participate legally and responsibly in resource extraction, the benefits extend beyond individual miners to families, businesses and the nation as a whole.