By a Correspondent
The government of Tanzania has said talks are ongoing with Barrick Gold North Mara on possible empowerment of small-scale miners at Nyamongo area in Tarime District, aiming at helping them to conduct lawful activities and stop invading the mine.
Answering Tarime Rural Member of Parliament Mwita Waitara, in the House in Dodoma today, Deputy Minister for Minerals Dr Steven Kiruswa said the government has requested North Mara to help conduct exploration in the surrounding areas and where possible, provide capital and mining gear to enable artisanal miners earn their living without encroaching the gold mine.
In his additional question in Parliament, Mr Waitara had wanted to know how the government was responding to frequent intrusions of the giant gold mine by youths, and if at all it had any plans to repossess and distribute idle land to wananchi, saying the intrusions had sometimes resulted in serious injuries and even deaths.
Barrick Gold North Mara is run in a partnership with the government of Tanzania, through Twiga Minerals Corporation. The gold mine has donated massively to community development services including health, education and infrastructure through CSR funding.