Mkapa reminds mining companies of social obligations

Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa has reminded international mining companies of their obligations to the country, environment and the communities surrounding the large-scale mines. At the official opening of North Mara Gold Mine last week, Mkapa praised Afrika Mashariki Gold Mines Limited, the owners of the mine, for their "corporate responsibility and sense of community service", but he urged all mining companies to look more at health and education. "Health and education are sound investments for the future of the people and that of their children. Let your mining activities here produce gold, but let it also produce learning at all levels, enduring learning that will outlive this gold mine," Mkapa said. Mkapa also said that for the country to benefit in the long-term, the mining companies should put in place human resources development and capacity building programmes to help Tanzanians secure more senior jobs within the companies. "The people of Tanzania also expect to benefit from this mine through job creation, skills development and opportunity to provide auxiliary services and consumer goods. Whenever trained and qualified personnel are available locally, accord them due preference," he said. The North Mara Gold Mine is Tanzania's fourth large-scale gold mine and will contribute to the growing utilisation of the country's relatively untapped mineral wealth. "It is only a quarter the size of the larger mines such as Bulyanhulu or Geita, but it will still be producing 5 tonnes of gold a year and, following new finds, the mine's life is likely to be extended from the original nine, to 20 years," a member of the Tanzanian Chamber of Mines told IRIN on Friday. Following heavy investment by several multinational mining firms, large-scale mining has expanded in Tanzania over recent years and, according to the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, is expected amount to 10 percent of the Gross Domestic Product by 2025.