By Lake Zone Watch Writer
Tarime Rural Member of Parliament Mwita Waitara has praised Barrick North Mara workers for their dedication and effective supervision of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects, thus offering excellent value for money.
Waitara made the commendation recently when speaking at a meeting with Barrick Corporation President and CEO, Mark Bristow, attended by village, ward and government leaders — mainly from villages bordering North Mara Gold Mine.
“Barrick North Mara authorities are in the forefront in making follow-ups to ensure that implementation of the CSR projects bears the value for money spent, he said.
The lawmaker said Barrick has disbursed a staggering 7bn/- for implementation of various development projects in the gold-rich Tarime Rural constituency.
The CSR programme implementation lays accent on five key priorities areas: education, health, food security, water and socio-economic activities.
Speaking on the same occasion, Mara Regional Commissioner Said Mohamed Mtanda thanked Barrick North Mara Gold Mine for its continued support to the government in its socio-economic development initiatives.
“Let me thank North Mara Gold Mine for the way you are making contributions to development issues,” Mtanda said at the meeting, also attended by Deputy Minister for Minerals, Dr Steven Kiruswa.
The regional boss also hailed Barrick for offering job opportunities to many Tanzanians, promising that government will continue to maintain security at the mine and its neighbourhood.
“I’d like to assure you that security for Barrick Gold will be given priority, and we will be available for any requests for conflict resolution,” said Mtanda, adding that cooperation with the investor is a high government’s agenda.
Barrick President and CEO Mark Bristow used the occasion to mention some of the achievements made by the North Mara and Bulyanhulu gold mines since 2019 when the partnership with the Tanzanian government, through Twiga Minerals, was established.
Barrick, he said, has supported the ambitious Nyangoto water project to supply the precious liquid to seven villages located near North Mara Mine.
The project was inaugurated on July 6 this year by the leader of the 2023 Uhuru Torch Race Abdalla Shaib Kaim. A total of 35,000 residents of Nyangoto, Mjini Kati, Matongo, and Nyabichune now enjoy clean and safe drinking water.
Bristow also said the project would be expanded to cover 11 villages. Already, he said the first report of the project expansion programme has been prepared by Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency( RUWASA).