Dar es Salaam. Tanzania has taken a decisive step to transform small-scale mining through a landmark financing partnership between the country’s leading lender, CRDB Bank, and the Mining Commission.
The agreement was signed on February 23, 2026, in the commercial capital, marking a major shift in access to capital, technology, and growth for artisanal miners.
The Minister for Minerals, Mr Anthony Mavunde, officiated.
He described the agreement as a direct implementation of the directives of President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
“The initiative reflected the government’s resolve to modernise the mining sector and expand financial inclusion,” he noted.
Mr Mavunde said the partnership would unlock affordable credit, improve productivity, and strengthen compliance.
He added that it would create a more predictable and supportive business environment.
“I thank CRDB for undertaking field visits before committing funds. He said such due diligence improved investment outcomes and national returns,” he added.
The minister noted that Tanzania remains among the few African countries that legally recognise small-scale miners.
He said the government continues to issue licences, revoke idle prospecting permits, and reallocate viable areas to local miners.
He added that these measures were designed to raise output, efficiency, and incomes.
He revealed that small-scale mining now contributes 40 percent to the mining sector’s share of GDP. This marked a dramatic rise from four percent in earlier years.
He described the shift as a major policy success. He said it demonstrated the benefits of formalisation and institutional support.
The agreement includes a special financing programme for small-scale gold miners. CRDB said it had already disbursed Sh189 billion to the mining sector.
The bank pledged to expand lending under concessional and flexible terms. It said the aim was to stimulate sustainable growth and technological upgrading.
CRDB Managing Director Dr Abdulmajid Nsekela said the programme would bring real transformation. He said miners were not small in their economic contribution.
He described them as a vital pillar of employment, household income, and regional development. He said the bank sought to build long-term partnerships rather than short-term transactions.
“The initiative will also support ethical and sustainable mining practices,” he explained.
A Commissioner in the Mining Commission, Dr Theresia Numbi, said responsible mining required strict adherence to laws, regulations, and environmental standards. She stressed the need to integrate environmental protection with production goals.
A highlight of the event was the announcement of a Sh50 billion loan to Songwe Gold Family.
The facility will be disbursed in a single tranche. It is the largest financing package ever extended to a small-scale mining group in Tanzania.
Officials said the loan would set a new benchmark for sector funding.
Stakeholders described the agreement as a turning point. They said it would deepen formalisation, accelerate growth, and enhance transparency.
They also said it would strengthen the mining sector’s role in national development.
The government reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining reforms.
It said it would continue to create an enabling environment for responsible mining. It also pledged to strengthen supervision and policy coordination.
The partnership is expected to reshape the small-scale mining landscape. It signals a new era of inclusion, productivity, and shared prosperity.
