South Africa, Botswana Clash Over Diamonds
Diamond production behemoth De Beers Group of Companies will hold a Sight next week at Diamond Trading Company Botswana (DTCB) in Gaborone where they will auction stones without rough diamonds from neighbouring South Africa. This follows a shocking decision last week by South Africa’s minerals minister, Mosebenzi Zwane, of refusing to grant an exemption to […]
Where Pupils, Teachers, Parents Prefer Gold Mining to Schooling
As early as 10am, seven-year-old Joseph Ouma is standing in a muddy stream, filtering gold from the water channels connecting to River Okame in Amonikanine village, Buteba sub-county in Busia district. As ZURAH NAKABUGO reports, Ouma is just one of many children who have all but abandoned school in favour of more ‘lucrative’ activities. Asked […]
Why Mineral Wealth Not a Blessing for Africa
Tanzania is one of the most abundantly endowed with natural resources just like most of other African countries, but is still ranked high amongst the 25 poorest countries in the world. Private investment in mineral sector in Tanzania is in place for almost 20 years since the country opened its doors for foreign direct investment […]
President John Magufuli’s Mineral Sands Probe Findings Shake Tanzania
A day after President John Magufuli ordered security organs to investigate parties involved in the mineral sand saga, the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) and the Police are already on their toes implementing the directive. President Magufuli issued the instruction on Wednesday following revelations of massive thieving within the mining sector, apparently engineered […]
Tanzania’s John Magufuli Fires Energy Minister
President John Magufuli wants energy and mineral minister Prof Sospeter Muhongo to reconsider his position after he was implicated in the mineral sand saga report. The president was responding to recommendations made to him in the report by a special committee he formed to investigate gold and cooper consentrate in mineral sand. “The minister is […]
How President John Magufuli Opened Eyes of Academicians And Legislators in Tanzania
Academicians and legislators have described the probe report on copper concentrate exports presented to President John Magufuli as an eye-opener, on how Tanzania has been losing billions of shillings in the mining sector, calling for transparency in contracts between the government and investors. Soon after findings of the scathing report were unveiled yesterday, share prices […]
Minister Chinamasa Says Thanks to Mining, Sleepless Nights Are Now a Thing of the Past
FINANCE minister Patrick Chinamasa says he no longer has sleepless nights over the country’s economy as key performers such as mining and agriculture are showing good results. Chinamasa said this as he praised the mining industry on Friday at the just ended 78th Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe annual general meeting and conference in Victoria […]
Rwanda Produces a Third of World’s Tantalum – Report
Rwanda is the world’s largest producer of tantalum, accounting for over one-third of the mineral traded on the international market, according to the latest Minerals Commodity Summaries published by the United States Geological Survey. Rwanda accounted for about 37 per cent of the global tantalum production while DR Congo accounted for about 32 per cent […]