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| The Deputy Minister of State in the Vice-President's Office (Environment), Charles Kitwanga (3rd left) and the Deputy Minister for Energy and Minerals, Stephen Masele (right), inaugurate a water well at Nyaisangero village in Tarime district, Mara region, built by African Barrick Gold's (ABG) North Mara Mine as part of its vast community investment projects. |
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| The Deputy Minister for Energy and Minerals, Stephen Masele (2nd right), inaugurates the Sungu Sungu hospital in Tarime district, Mara region, after African Barrick Gold's (ABG) North Mara Mine spent around $330,000 (more than 500 million shillings) to rehabilitate and upgrade the hospital. Looking on are ABG's Vice President for Corporate Affairs, Deo Mwanyika (right), Deputy Minister of State in the Vice-President's Office (Environment), Charles Kitwanga (3rd right) and the General Manager of North Mara Mine, Gary Chapman. |
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| The Deputy Minister of State in the Vice-President’s Office (Environment), Charles Kitwanga, addresses journalists after his recent visit to African Barrick Gold’s (ABG) North Mara mine. |
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| The Deputy Minister of State in the Vice-President’s Office (Environment), Charles Kitwanga, inspects operations of the North Mara gold mine during his recent visit to the mine owned by African Barrick Gold (ABG). |
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TARIME
THE government has praised the North Mara gold mine in Tarime district, Mara region, for its efforts in conserving the environment and ensuring it complies to sustainable mining practices.
The Deputy Minister of State in the Vice-President’s Office (Environment), Charles Kitwanga, said North Mara mine, which is owned by African Barrick Gold (ABG), was doing a commendable job to ensure its mining operations do not harm the environment.
The minister said the government would continue to work with all mines in the country to reduce their environmental footprint.
“The state of environmental conservation at North Mara mine is good. They are making a lot of effort to conserve the environment,” Kitwanga told journalists after a tour of the mine recently.
“But we still need to work with some mines to ensure they comply to internationally-accepted standards, particularly the ISO 14001 standard.”
The visit to North Mara mine also involved the Deputy Minister for Energy and Minerals, Stephen Masele. The two ministers inaugurated water and health projects and visited the sites of new schools being built by the mine.
Kitwanga announced in the previous parliament session that he would visit large-scale mines to inspect their compliance to sustainable mining practices following complaints from some members of parliament.
He said the mine was taking relevant measures to control the spread of dust and reduce the level of noise from its mining operations.
The minister said he was particularly impressed by the North Mara mine’s community investments, which include a donation of more than 1,000 school desks, construction of new schools, rehabilitation of the Sungu Sungu hospital for more than 500 million shillings and the drilling of water wells.
Scientific tests around North Mara mine have established that the mine was not responsible for any pollution to surrounding water bodies.
North Mara mine’s gold extraction process uses cyanide, but no traces of the chemical were found in the environment.
However, researchers found some traces of mercury, which is used by artisanal and small-scale miners for gold processing.
“It is true that small-scale miners are partly to blame for environmental pollution. We need to help these small miners build capacity so that the mercury they use does not pollute rivers and other water bodies in the environment.”
Kitwanga said his ministry would work closely with the Ministry of Energy and Minerals to address the problem of pollution caused by artisan miners.
The minister said he had personally witnessed some small-scale miners who had suffered from mercury pollution.
“I don’t think the goal of small-scale miners is to get money at any cost, even to their own lives,” he said.
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Uwekezaji wa Barrick waleta manufaa makubwa kwa taifa - serikali
MWANDISHI WETU
Tarime
SERIKALI imeipongeza kampuni ya African Barrick Gold (ABG) kwa kuleta manufaa makubwa kwa taifa kutokana na uwekezaji unaoendelea kufanywa na migodi yake nchini katika nyanja mbalimbali ikiwemo uchumi wa nchi
na maendeleo ya jamii.
Kampuni ya ABG inamiliki migodi minne ya dhahabu nchini -- Bulyanhulu, North Mara, Buzwagi na Tulawaka -- na ndiyo kampuni kubwa kuliko zote kwenye sekta ya madini.
“Nimejifunza mambo mengi sana baada ya kutembelea mgodi wa North Mara,” alisema Naibu Waziri wa Nishati na Madini, Stephen Masele, siku ya Ijumaa baada ya kufanya ziara ya mgodi huo wa ABG ulioko wilaya ya Tarime, mkoa wa Mara.
Katika ziara hiyo, Masele pamoja na Naibu Waziri wa Nchi kwenye Ofisi ya Makamu wa Rais (Mazingira), Charles Kitwanga, walitembelea miradi mikubwa ya jamii ambayo inatekelezwa na mgodi huo kwenye sekta mbalimbali ikiwemo elimu, maji na afya.
Masele alisema kuwa mgodi wa North Mara kihistoria umekuwa na matatizo ya mahusiano na jamii inayoizunguka, lakini hatua kubwa zimepigwa sasa
kuboresha mahusiano na vijiji vinavyozunguka mgodi huo.
“Mimi binafsi Bungeni nimeskia pale wabunge wa huku wakilalamika kwamba kuna shule za msingi ziko jirani sana na mgodi. Kazi za mgodi zinapoendelea, ile milipuko inakuwa ikiwaathiri wanafunzi,” alisema.
“Lakini leo nimetembelea shule ambayo inatakiwa kujengwa ili kuhamisha ile ambayo inaathiriwa na shughuli za mgodi. Nimejionea kazi ambayo inaendelea pale. Wakandarasi wako saiti wanajenga hizo shule.”
Masele alisema kuwa kipindi cha nyuma kulikuwa na tatizo la wanafunzi kukaa chini katika shule zilizopo katika maeneo hayo ya mgodi, lakini mgodi wa North Mara sasa unatekeleza mradi kabambe wa kuzipatia shule hizo madawati.
“Nimejionea kwamba mgodi umeweza kutekeleza ahadi ya kuweka madawati katika shule zote ambazo zinazunguka mgodi na wanafunzi wamekaa kwenye madawati,” alisema.
Hivi karibuni, mgodi wa North Mara ulitoa msaada wa zaidi ya madawati 1,000 kwa shule za msingi za Wilaya ya Tarime ambazo zinazunguka mgodi huo.
MIRADI YA MAJI
Waziri Masele pia ameipongeza ABG kwa jitihada zake za kutoa msaada kwa wananchi kuhakikisha kuwa wanapata huduma ya maji safi na salama ya kunywa.
“Palikuwa na wasiwasi mkubwa wa maji … wananchi walikuwa wakilalamika wanachota maji mbali. Leo nimeshuhudia tukizindua kisima cha maji ambacho ni moja ya mwendelezo wa visima vya maji vingine na miradi ya
maji mingine ambayo mgodi inaendelea kutekeleza kwa wananchi,” alisema.
“Akina mama ambao walikuwa wakiamka saa saba au saa nane usiku kwenda kutafuta maji sasa wanaweza kuamka saa mbili au saa moja asubuhi. Nimeona bowsers (malori ya maji), maji wanaletewa mlangoni kitu ambacho maeneo mengi tungependa kuletewa maji mlangoni lakini eneo hili la Nyamongo sasa wananchi wanapelekewa maji mlangoni na mgodi wa Barrick.”
SEKTA YA AFYA
Mawaziri hao pia walitembelea hospitali ya Sungusungu ambayo mgodi wa North Mara ulikabidhi kwa serikali baada ya kutumia zaidi ya dola za Marekani 330,000 (zaidi ya shilingi milioni 500) kufanya ukarabati mkubwa katika hospitali hiyo.
“Vijana wengi hapa wanajishughulisha na shughuli za uchimbaji madini na wanapata ajali nyingi. Tumeshuhudia pale vijana wanapata ajali lakini wanatibiwa katika hospitali ambayo imejengwa na mgodi ambayo zamani ilikuwa ni hospitali ndogo sana,” alisema.
Masele alitaka migodi mingine nchini iige mfano wa mgodi wa North Mara wa ABG kwenye kuboresha mahusiano na jamii na kuwekeza kwenye miradi mikubwa ya maendeleo ya jamii.
“Tumeona shughuli zile za kijamii kama community development projects zinafanyika kwa ufanisi na kwa kasi kubwa. Hili binafsi mimi limenifariji kwa sababu yale ambayo tumeyaahidi kwa wananchi kwamba tutahakikisha tunaisimamia migodi hii ilete manufaa kwenye jamii zote ambazo zinazoizunguka,” alisema.
KODI ZA MADINI
THE government has praised the North Mara gold mine in Tarime district, Mara region, for its efforts in conserving the environment and ensuring it complies to sustainable mining practices.
The Deputy Minister of State in the Vice-President’s Office (Environment), Charles Kitwanga, said North Mara mine, which is owned by African Barrick Gold (ABG), was doing a commendable job to ensure its mining operations do not harm the environment.
The minister said the government would continue to work with all mines in the country to reduce their environmental footprint.
“The state of environmental conservation at North Mara mine is good. They are making a lot of effort to conserve the environment,” Kitwanga told journalists after a tour of the mine recently.
“But we still need to work with some mines to ensure they comply to internationally-accepted standards, particularly the ISO 14001 standard.”
The visit to North Mara mine also involved the Deputy Minister for Energy and Minerals, Stephen Masele. The two ministers inaugurated water and health projects and visited the sites of new schools being built by the mine.
Kitwanga announced in the previous parliament session that he would visit large-scale mines to inspect their compliance to sustainable mining practices following complaints from some members of parliament.
He said the mine was taking relevant measures to control the spread of dust and reduce the level of noise from its mining operations.
The minister said he was particularly impressed by the North Mara mine’s community investments, which include a donation of more than 1,000 school desks, construction of new schools, rehabilitation of the Sungu Sungu hospital for more than 500 million shillings and the drilling of water wells.
Scientific tests around North Mara mine have established that the mine was not responsible for any pollution to surrounding water bodies.
North Mara mine’s gold extraction process uses cyanide, but no traces of the chemical were found in the environment.
However, researchers found some traces of mercury, which is used by artisanal and small-scale miners for gold processing.
“It is true that small-scale miners are partly to blame for environmental pollution. We need to help these small miners build capacity so that the mercury they use does not pollute rivers and other water bodies in the environment.”
Kitwanga said his ministry would work closely with the Ministry of Energy and Minerals to address the problem of pollution caused by artisan miners.
The minister said he had personally witnessed some small-scale miners who had suffered from mercury pollution.
“I don’t think the goal of small-scale miners is to get money at any cost, even to their own lives,” he said.
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Uwekezaji wa Barrick waleta manufaa makubwa kwa taifa - serikali
MWANDISHI WETU
Tarime
SERIKALI imeipongeza kampuni ya African Barrick Gold (ABG) kwa kuleta manufaa makubwa kwa taifa kutokana na uwekezaji unaoendelea kufanywa na migodi yake nchini katika nyanja mbalimbali ikiwemo uchumi wa nchi
na maendeleo ya jamii.
Kampuni ya ABG inamiliki migodi minne ya dhahabu nchini -- Bulyanhulu, North Mara, Buzwagi na Tulawaka -- na ndiyo kampuni kubwa kuliko zote kwenye sekta ya madini.
“Nimejifunza mambo mengi sana baada ya kutembelea mgodi wa North Mara,” alisema Naibu Waziri wa Nishati na Madini, Stephen Masele, siku ya Ijumaa baada ya kufanya ziara ya mgodi huo wa ABG ulioko wilaya ya Tarime, mkoa wa Mara.
Katika ziara hiyo, Masele pamoja na Naibu Waziri wa Nchi kwenye Ofisi ya Makamu wa Rais (Mazingira), Charles Kitwanga, walitembelea miradi mikubwa ya jamii ambayo inatekelezwa na mgodi huo kwenye sekta mbalimbali ikiwemo elimu, maji na afya.
Masele alisema kuwa mgodi wa North Mara kihistoria umekuwa na matatizo ya mahusiano na jamii inayoizunguka, lakini hatua kubwa zimepigwa sasa
kuboresha mahusiano na vijiji vinavyozunguka mgodi huo.
“Mimi binafsi Bungeni nimeskia pale wabunge wa huku wakilalamika kwamba kuna shule za msingi ziko jirani sana na mgodi. Kazi za mgodi zinapoendelea, ile milipuko inakuwa ikiwaathiri wanafunzi,” alisema.
“Lakini leo nimetembelea shule ambayo inatakiwa kujengwa ili kuhamisha ile ambayo inaathiriwa na shughuli za mgodi. Nimejionea kazi ambayo inaendelea pale. Wakandarasi wako saiti wanajenga hizo shule.”
Masele alisema kuwa kipindi cha nyuma kulikuwa na tatizo la wanafunzi kukaa chini katika shule zilizopo katika maeneo hayo ya mgodi, lakini mgodi wa North Mara sasa unatekeleza mradi kabambe wa kuzipatia shule hizo madawati.
“Nimejionea kwamba mgodi umeweza kutekeleza ahadi ya kuweka madawati katika shule zote ambazo zinazunguka mgodi na wanafunzi wamekaa kwenye madawati,” alisema.
Hivi karibuni, mgodi wa North Mara ulitoa msaada wa zaidi ya madawati 1,000 kwa shule za msingi za Wilaya ya Tarime ambazo zinazunguka mgodi huo.
MIRADI YA MAJI
Waziri Masele pia ameipongeza ABG kwa jitihada zake za kutoa msaada kwa wananchi kuhakikisha kuwa wanapata huduma ya maji safi na salama ya kunywa.
“Palikuwa na wasiwasi mkubwa wa maji … wananchi walikuwa wakilalamika wanachota maji mbali. Leo nimeshuhudia tukizindua kisima cha maji ambacho ni moja ya mwendelezo wa visima vya maji vingine na miradi ya
maji mingine ambayo mgodi inaendelea kutekeleza kwa wananchi,” alisema.
“Akina mama ambao walikuwa wakiamka saa saba au saa nane usiku kwenda kutafuta maji sasa wanaweza kuamka saa mbili au saa moja asubuhi. Nimeona bowsers (malori ya maji), maji wanaletewa mlangoni kitu ambacho maeneo mengi tungependa kuletewa maji mlangoni lakini eneo hili la Nyamongo sasa wananchi wanapelekewa maji mlangoni na mgodi wa Barrick.”
SEKTA YA AFYA
Mawaziri hao pia walitembelea hospitali ya Sungusungu ambayo mgodi wa North Mara ulikabidhi kwa serikali baada ya kutumia zaidi ya dola za Marekani 330,000 (zaidi ya shilingi milioni 500) kufanya ukarabati mkubwa katika hospitali hiyo.
“Vijana wengi hapa wanajishughulisha na shughuli za uchimbaji madini na wanapata ajali nyingi. Tumeshuhudia pale vijana wanapata ajali lakini wanatibiwa katika hospitali ambayo imejengwa na mgodi ambayo zamani ilikuwa ni hospitali ndogo sana,” alisema.
Masele alitaka migodi mingine nchini iige mfano wa mgodi wa North Mara wa ABG kwenye kuboresha mahusiano na jamii na kuwekeza kwenye miradi mikubwa ya maendeleo ya jamii.
“Tumeona shughuli zile za kijamii kama community development projects zinafanyika kwa ufanisi na kwa kasi kubwa. Hili binafsi mimi limenifariji kwa sababu yale ambayo tumeyaahidi kwa wananchi kwamba tutahakikisha tunaisimamia migodi hii ilete manufaa kwenye jamii zote ambazo zinazoizunguka,” alisema.
KODI ZA MADINI
Masele aliipongeza ABG kwa kutoa mchango mkubwa kwa pato la taifa kupitia kwenye kodi mbalimbali ambazo migodi yake inalipa serikalini.
“Kwa upande wa shughuli za kodi, tunaendelea na mazungumzo na tunaishukuru Barrick kwa ujumla na migodi yao yote siyo tu North Mara, hata mingine yote kwa ujumla wameweza kuhama kutoka kwenye kulipa mrabaha wa asilimia 3 na sasa wanalipa asilimia 4 ya mapato yote,” alisema.
“Hii ni hatua kubwa ambayo wameifanya ambayo iko nje ya mikataba yao ambayo waliifunga huko nyuma. Sasa unaweza kuona kuwa wametoa ushirikiano mkubwa kwa serikali kuweza kukubali kulipa asilimia 4 ya mrabaha, jambo ambalo limeongeza mapato katika makusanyo ya serikali.”
TAARIFA YA KUUZWA KWA ABG
“Kwa upande wa shughuli za kodi, tunaendelea na mazungumzo na tunaishukuru Barrick kwa ujumla na migodi yao yote siyo tu North Mara, hata mingine yote kwa ujumla wameweza kuhama kutoka kwenye kulipa mrabaha wa asilimia 3 na sasa wanalipa asilimia 4 ya mapato yote,” alisema.
“Hii ni hatua kubwa ambayo wameifanya ambayo iko nje ya mikataba yao ambayo waliifunga huko nyuma. Sasa unaweza kuona kuwa wametoa ushirikiano mkubwa kwa serikali kuweza kukubali kulipa asilimia 4 ya mrabaha, jambo ambalo limeongeza mapato katika makusanyo ya serikali.”
TAARIFA YA KUUZWA KWA ABG
Masele alikanusha tetesi kuwa tayari kampuni ya ABG imekwishauzwa kwa kampuni ya taifa ya dhahabu ya China na kusisitiza kuwa serikali inafuatilia kwa karibu mazungumzo kati ya kampuni hizo.
“Kuna taarifa nyingi zimesikika kwenye vyombo mbalimbali vya habari kwamba mgodi utanunuliwa na wengine wameshasema kuwa umeshauzwa. Naomba niseme tu kuwa mgodi bado haujauzwa lakini mazungumzo ya kuuzwa
mgodi na kununuliwa na kampuni ya taifa ya China yanaendelea kati yao,” alisema.
“Sisi kama serikali la kwetu ni moja tu, maslahi yetu kama nchi kwenye kodi na maslahi mengine yote. Zipo kodi nyingi sana ambazo serikali inazipata kutoka kwenye mgodi.”
UWEKEZAJI WA ABG
Makamu wa Rais wa ABG wa shughuli za shirika, Deo Mwanyika, alisema kuwa mgodi wa North Mara umeingia mkataba na vijiji vyote vinavyouzunguka wa kuwekeza zaidi ya dola za Marekani milioni 8.5 (zaidi ya shilingi bilioni 13) kwenye miradi mbalimbali ya jamii ikiwemo kwenye sekta za elimu, afya na maji.
Mwanyika alisema kuwa mgodi wa North Mara unakabiliwa na changamoto mbalimbali, ikiwemo tatizo la uvamizi wa mara kwa mara unaofanywa na baadhi ya wananchi kwenye eneo la mgodi huo.
“Changamoto kubwa sana ya mgodi huu pamoja na uzalishaji ni mahusiano na jamii. Kulikuwa na malamiko makubwa sana kuhusu kutotekeleza mikataba ambao mgodi ulikuwa umeingia huko siku za nyuma. Sisi tumetoa ahadi kuwa tutatekeleza hiyo mikataba yote na tumeanza,” alisema.
“Changamoto zipo, bado tuna tatizo kubwa la uvamizi lakini kwa kiasi kikubwa tunafanya kazi na serikali na ujio wa hawa mawaziri wawili mojawapo ni kuangalia kwa kiasi gani tunaweza kukaa kwa pamoja tukapunguza haya mambo ya uvamizi bila kuleta madhara kwa wananchi.”
“Kuna taarifa nyingi zimesikika kwenye vyombo mbalimbali vya habari kwamba mgodi utanunuliwa na wengine wameshasema kuwa umeshauzwa. Naomba niseme tu kuwa mgodi bado haujauzwa lakini mazungumzo ya kuuzwa
mgodi na kununuliwa na kampuni ya taifa ya China yanaendelea kati yao,” alisema.
“Sisi kama serikali la kwetu ni moja tu, maslahi yetu kama nchi kwenye kodi na maslahi mengine yote. Zipo kodi nyingi sana ambazo serikali inazipata kutoka kwenye mgodi.”
UWEKEZAJI WA ABG
Makamu wa Rais wa ABG wa shughuli za shirika, Deo Mwanyika, alisema kuwa mgodi wa North Mara umeingia mkataba na vijiji vyote vinavyouzunguka wa kuwekeza zaidi ya dola za Marekani milioni 8.5 (zaidi ya shilingi bilioni 13) kwenye miradi mbalimbali ya jamii ikiwemo kwenye sekta za elimu, afya na maji.
Mwanyika alisema kuwa mgodi wa North Mara unakabiliwa na changamoto mbalimbali, ikiwemo tatizo la uvamizi wa mara kwa mara unaofanywa na baadhi ya wananchi kwenye eneo la mgodi huo.
“Changamoto kubwa sana ya mgodi huu pamoja na uzalishaji ni mahusiano na jamii. Kulikuwa na malamiko makubwa sana kuhusu kutotekeleza mikataba ambao mgodi ulikuwa umeingia huko siku za nyuma. Sisi tumetoa ahadi kuwa tutatekeleza hiyo mikataba yote na tumeanza,” alisema.
“Changamoto zipo, bado tuna tatizo kubwa la uvamizi lakini kwa kiasi kikubwa tunafanya kazi na serikali na ujio wa hawa mawaziri wawili mojawapo ni kuangalia kwa kiasi gani tunaweza kukaa kwa pamoja tukapunguza haya mambo ya uvamizi bila kuleta madhara kwa wananchi.”
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