By Lake Zone Watch Writer
The Parliamentary Committee on Energy and Minerals yesterday commended Barrick Gold North Mara for transforming the mine into a lifeline for local communities and a huge tax payer to the government.
“In just a short period of time, you’ve managed to change the landscape of the mine for the betterment of the surrounding communities and the government. The MPs are impressed, please keep it up, “said the Chairperson of the committee, Dr David Mathayo David.
The gold mine is located at Nyamongo area in Tarime District, Mara Region.
The committee also commended Barrick North Mara for being exemplary in paying taxes and injecting billions into social and development projects through CSR funding.
“Barrick Gold North Mara is on top of the list of large corporations paying taxes and dividends to the government,’’ said Dr Mathayo .
He also noted that the company implements the Local Content phenomenon as directed in the country’s Mining Law which aims to ensure communities and contractors in the local areas and across the country benefit from employment and business opportunities within the gold mine.
“The mine must be protected from intruders and vandals. Where are the security organs while some bad elements interrupt the mine’s operations? This paints a bad image of our peaceful country,’’ warned Dr Mathayo.
Earlier, the parliamentary committee members made a tour of various installations of the mine, including a tailings storage facility (TSF), gold processing plant and some community projects like Matongo Secondary School and Nyangoto Water Supply, being implemented through the CSR funds.
Addressing the Bunge committee, Barrick Gold Country Manager Dr Melkiory Ngido said the company, through North Mara and Bulyanhulu gold mines has invested over TZS six trillion/- and half of it has been remitted to the government in the form of taxes and dividends since 2019, when operations began in partnership with Twiga Minerals Corporation.
Further to that, the company, through Barrick- Twiga Future Forward Education Programme, has donated USD 30 million for high secondary schools’ infrastructure in various parts of the country, according to the Country Manager.
Some of the leaders who joined the Parliamentary team on the tour include, Deputy Minister for Minerals Steven Kiruswa, Mara Regional Commissioner (RC)r Said Mohamed Mtanda, Tarime District Commissioner Col. Michael Mntenjele, councilors and village chairpersons.