Dodoma. The minister for Minerals, Anthony Mavunde, has directed the Mining Commission to extend the operating hours of mineral markets until 9:00 pm.
The directive is designed to broaden business opportunities and accommodate traders and sellers over an extended timeframe, directly responding to stakeholder demands and enhancing overall efficiency within the sector.
Mr Mavunde announced the directive in Dodoma during a session with the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy and Minerals, where the ministry submitted a comprehensive report on the current status and progress of the country’s mining sector.
Addressing the committee, Mavunde emphasized that the government is continuously strengthening controls to curb illegal mineral smuggling while placing a firm focus on local value addition.
Regarding the Mirerani mining area, he outlined a strategic plan to stimulate the Tanzanite trade by reviewing the existing commercial framework to spur further economic growth.
The government is also tightening enforcement against license holders who hoard vast parcels of land without actively developing them.
Mr Mavunde underscored that unexploited areas strictly governed by law face regulatory action, including the potential revocation of licenses.
Furthermore, the ministry of Minerals is working alongside the Ministry of Energy to secure a reliable power supply for mining sites while integrating key strategic infrastructure into broader national development plans.
To ensure broader economic inclusion, the government is expanding opportunities for local citizens through the Building a Better Tomorrow (BBT) initiative, which specifically targets youth, women, and persons with special needs.
In addition, 14 Memoranda of Understanding have been signed with investors whose projects are yet to commence production, alongside ongoing efforts to encourage financial institutions to provide accessible loans to small-scale miners.
During the session, the Parliamentary Committee advised the government to review and reduce levies that place a financial burden on small-scale miners, ensuring an enabling environment for local operators.
The presented report also highlighted significant industrial milestones, revealing that domestic refineries have produced 67.8 tonnes of gold valued at 18.4 trillion Tanzanian shillings, demonstrating robust progress in local processing capabilities.
