KAGERA: Tin Mining has continued to contribute to Government revenue through the Mining Sector in Kagera Region, while Tanzanians are urged to take advantage of mining opportunities.
Speaking in a special interview, the Acting Resident Mining Officer for Kagera, Mr. Nobert Mkopi said that there are many opportunities in Kagera, including laboratory services to be able to conduct research on the minerals available.
“People should come and invest in Tin mining, there are still many areas in the areas of Nyaruzumbura, Katera, Murongo, etc., in Kyerwa District, the ongoing mining is limited to a few areas, we welcome large miners from within and outside,” said Mr. Mkopi.
“The Tin Mining Market is currently growing, and these minerals have continued to contribute to the revenue generated by the Mining Sector in this region,” he said.
He said, Tin ore has various uses including being used to connect various items such as steel and metal pipes (Steel/Metal), electrical systems (electric circuits), electronic telephone systems, railway steel, aircraft systems and electric elevator systems in apartments.
Also, the mineral is used to prevent rust in food storage containers for the union of iron ore.
Tin is also used to prevent rust in corrugated iron sheets for building houses.
Mr. Mkopi speaking to small-scale miners of the mineral has urged them to carry out their mining activities professionally by adhering to the laws, regulations and guidelines set by the Government and to ban the smuggling of minerals.
“Miners in these areas have been granted mining licenses in accordance with the laws and guidelines of the Government and what is found must enter the correct system, whoever is found diverting our minerals to other countries without a procedure, legal action will be taken,” he warned, Mr. Mkopi.
Miner, Mr. Evalista Didas speaking on behalf of the ‘Bati’ miners in the Murongo area located in Kyerwa district in Kagera region, said they are grateful to the Sixth Phase Government for trusting them and granting them mining licenses.
“The government has created a good investment and market environment for us, in the past these minerals were unknown, we sold them for 2,000 shillings per kilo but now we sell them for 40,000 shillings, we have made great progress in our mining”, said Mr. Didas
“In the past, we miners were looked down upon, when someone sees you coming out to dig, they look down on you, but now when they see you coming out to dig, they see you as valuable, we educate, we have built, we raise livestock with the money we earn from these Tin minerals”, said
The Chairman of Nyaruzumbura Village, Nyaruzumbura Ward located in Mrongo, Mr. Zaid Silaji said his village has benefited from investors from the Mining Sector in development activities including the construction of classrooms at Nyaru-zumbura Primary and Secondary schools, the construction of a village government office and they have revived roads that were impassable.
‘We no longer have the challenge of roads, the Mining Sector in our ward is a savior, the main thing we ask the Government through the Mining Offices to provide various seminars to the citizens so that we can identify more opportunities in our areas and appreciate them,’ said Silaji.
