Committee Formed to Advise Tanzanian Government on Small-Scale Miners’ Empowerment

Despite contributing approximately 44 percent of the mining sector’s share to the national GDP, small-scale miners in Tanzania continue to face significant challenges. These include limited access to capital, insufficient geological data, reliance on rudimentary technology, and, in some cases, direct competition with large-scale investors — occasionally resulting in the takeover of mining sites originally prospected by small-scale operators.

In response to these issues, the Ministry of Minerals has announced the formation of a seven-member committee tasked with advising the government on strategies to empower small-scale miners. The committee is chaired by Victor Tesha, Vice Chairperson of the Federation of Miners Associations of Tanzania, with Dr. Abdulrahman Mwanga, the Mining Commissioner, serving as secretary. Other members include Theobald Sabi, Managing Director of the National Bank of Commerce; Dr. Mussa Budeba, CEO of the Geological Survey of Tanzania; Hadija Ramadhani, a legal officer from the Mining Commission; Dr. Theresia Numbi, a lawyer and local content expert; and financial consultant Ivan Tarimo.

TAMISA would like to take this opportunity to warmly congratulate Dr. Theresia Numbi, one of its founding members, on this important appointment. The association extends its best wishes to the entire committee and reaffirms its commitment to supporting the committee’s work in any way it can to help advance the interests and empowerment of small-scale miners across Tanzania.