Summary
* Miners establish environmental rehabilitation fund
* Collect 2.6bn/- in two years
SAME, TANZANIA: GYPSUM mining operations in the villages of Ruvu Jiungeni and Makanya, within Same District of the Kilimanjaro region, are accelerating.
More than 200 licensed small-scale miners have united to improve the production and management of this vital resource for the cement industry and other sectors.
The miners have formed an association to protect their interests and coordinate activities, a move credited with boosting productivity, accountability, and the sector’s contribution to both its members and the wider community.
Within roughly a year, they have successfully implemented joint systems for managing and monitoring revenues.
Speaking in the district, Eng. Abel Madaha, the Acting Regional Mines Resident Officer for Kilimanjaro Region, overseeing Same, Mwanga, Hai, Rombo, Siha, and Moshi districts, stated that alongside the economic benefits, the law mandates all license holders to restore the environment after mining ceases.
Acknowledging this duty, the miners have created a dedicated Environmental Rehabilitation Fund (ERF) with a joint account.
A specified amount from each truck of gypsum leaving the site is directed toward rehabilitating affected areas, centralizing a responsibility that would otherwise fall on individual miners.
“This fund is jointly managed by the Office of the Regional Mines Resident Officer, the District Commissioner’s Office, and the Council Director’s Office to ensure the money is used for its intended purpose,” Eng. Madaha explained.
He further urged investors to capitalize on opportunities to add value to gypsum beyond the cement industry, noting its potential for products like gypsum powder, gypsum boards, construction tapes, and chalk.
According to Eng. Madaha, the Kilimanjaro region aims to collect 4.2bn/- in the 2025/2026 fiscal year and has already surpassed 60 percent of that target.
Gypsum mining contributes 45 to 50 percent of all mining sector revenue in the region.
He added that over the past two years, 2.6bn/- has been collected from gypsum mining, underscoring the sector’s growth and its contribution to government revenue.
For his part, Mr. Emmanuel Mbwambo, Chairman of the Kilimanjaro Region Gypsum Miners Association (KGMA), stated the association’s goal is to unite small-scale miners, boost production and profits, and ensure legal obligations are met.
He mentioned plans to establish a factory for processing gypsum-based products and has requested government support to achieve this.
Mr. Mbwambo also highlighted the association’s focus on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects, including contributions to social services for communities near mining areas, a key step in fostering positive relations between miners and residents. mining sector gains momentum in Kilimanjaro region
