DAR ES SALAAM: WATER is life, and in Tanzania its safety remains inseparable from the wellbeing of millions, particularly communities living near mining sites where economic promise and environmental risk often coexist.
As the country’s mining industry continues to expand, questions about how to protect rivers, groundwater and rainwater sources have become more urgent than ever.
Over the past decade, mining activities have grown significantly, contributing jobs, foreign exchange earnings and investment to the national economy. The sector now accounts for about 10 per cent of Tanzania’s Gross Domestic Product, underscoring its strategic importance. Yet alongside this growth, stakeholders warn that environmental protection, especially of water sources must remain a central priority if the industry is to sustain its gains.
Experts argue that longterm prosperity in mining depends not only on production volumes and export revenues but also on credible safeguards that protect ecosystems and public health. Without such safeguards, the very communities that host mining operations risk bearing hidden environmental and health costs.
One proposal gaining momentum is the creation of a comprehensive National Environmental Action Plan specifically tailored to the mining industry. Advocates believe such a plan would provide a structured and enforceable framework to bal‑ ance economic growth with environmental responsibility.
Speaking during the “Hoja Yako Mezani” symposium organised by HakiRasilimali in Dar es Salaam to assess en‑vironmental safety in mining areas, Engineer Lightness Salema, Chief Executive Officer of Women in Mining Operations (WIMO), emphasised the urgency of establishing a clear national action plan. She argued that water sources in mining zones must receive priority protection to prevent long-term ecological dam‑ age and public health consequences.
According to Eng Salema, embedding a dedicated Environmental Action Plan within national mining and environmental policies would strengthen accountability and sustainability. “If we want mining to continue contribut‑ ing meaningfully to GDP, we must ensure environmental sustainability is treated as a non-negotiable obligation,” she noted.
Among her key propos‑ als is the establishment of a dedicated environmental fund financed through a small percentage contribution from mineral production revenues. This contribution, she sug‑ gested, should apply to both small-scale and large-scale miners. Even a modest levy, when aggregated across the industry, could generate substantial resources for environmental restoration projects, water protection initiatives and community education programmes.
She further proposed the formation of a special author‑ ity or coordinated framework to oversee implementation of the action plan. Such a body would bring together local government leaders, civil society organisations, private sector actors and community representatives, including women and youth groups. Inclusive oversight, she said, would enhance transparency and public trust.
Eng Salema stressed that environmental compliance mechanisms should be introduced at the earliest stages of mining operations. Establishing responsible practices before production peaks, she argued, is far more effective than attempting corrective measures after environmental damage has occurred.
A critical concern raised during the discussions was the continued use of hazardous chemicals, particularly mercury, in gold processing. Eng Salema called for accel‑ erated adoption of safer alter‑ native technologies to reduce reliance on mercury. She emphasised that environmental and health protection must be integral to the sector’s longterm vision.
“There is no benefit in becoming wealthy at the expense of our health or that of future generations,” she warned. Mercury contamination in water bodies can have severe and lasting consequences for ecosystems and human health, affecting not only current residents but generations to come. While stricter regulations may face resistance in the short term, she argued that history would ultimately judge such measures as necessary and responsible.
Clay Mwaifwani, Legal Officer at the Legal and Hu‑ man Rights Centre, echoed many of these concerns. He pointed out that although Sections 42 and 44 of the Envi‑ ronmental Act provide for the establishment of Local Environmental Action Plans at the district level and a National Environmental Action Plan at the national level, the law does not clearly define who is responsible for financing their implementation.
He identified this financing gap as a major obstacle. While the plans themselves may be well designed and comprehensive, their effectiveness is undermined if funding sources remain am‑ biguous. Without dedicated and clearly defined financing mechanisms, implementation risks remaining on paper.
Mwaifwani called for amendments to clarify funding responsibilities and ensure that environmental and climate related projects in schools and communities receive adequate budgets. Clear legal provisions on financing, he argued, would transform environmental action plans from policy intentions into operational realities.
From the regulatory perspective, the National Environment Management Council (NEMC) maintains that efforts are underway to strengthen environmental compliance within the mining sector. Innocent Makomba, Principal Environmental Management Officer at NEMC, noted that authorities enforce restrictions prohibit‑ ing mining activities within 60 metres of existing water sources. Such buffer zones are intended to reduce direct contamination risks.
Mr Makomba also highlighted ongoing efforts to reduce mercury use in gold mining. He revealed that eight model centres have been es‑ tablished to educate and raise awareness among small-scale miners about the dangers associated with mercury. Through training and demonstration of safer techniques, regulators hope to gradually shift practices toward less harmful alternatives.
Despite these initiatives, concerns persist at the com‑ munity level. Lucy Shao, Programme Manager at HakiRasilimali, underscored the vulnerability of rural and forest-based communities where most mining activities occur. In many of these areas, residents rely heavily on rivers, streams and harvested rain water for domestic use.
According to Ms Shao, some communities have re‑ ported noticeable changes in the colour and perceived quality of rainwater since min‑ ing operations began nearby. While fears of contamination are common, scientifically verifying such concerns can be complex and resourceintensive.
She stressed that trans‑ parency and communication are essential. Collecting water samples and conducting laboratory tests, she said, is not sufficient if findings are not clearly communicated to affected communities. “Communities need timely and understandable feedback about whether their water is safe,” she explained. Without clear information, uncertainty and anxiety persist.
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The symposium discussions revealed broad consensus on one fundamental principle: Mining development and environmental protection cannot be treated as competing priorities. Rather, they must advance together. Protecting water sources is not merely an environmental issue; it is a matter of public health, social stability and sustainable economic growth.
As Tanzania continues to harness its mineral wealth, the challenge lies in ensuring that prosperity does not come at the expense of clean and safe water. A comprehensive, well-funded and effectively enforced Environmental Action Plan tailored to mining could provide the framework needed to safeguard both economic gains and community wellbeing.
Ultimately, the success of the mining sector will not be measured solely by export figures or GDP contribution. It will also be judged by the clarity of rivers, the safety of drinking water and the health of communities that live clos‑ est to extraction sites. Protecting water today is an invest‑ ment in the nation’s future.