Tanzania reports on mining review

Published by MAC on 2008-05-11

Tanzania: Mining Review Team Set to Present Probe Report to JK Pius Rugonzibwa, The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)

6th May 2008

The committee set up to review the mining industry is to hand over its report to President Jakaya Kikwete later this week.

According to chairman of the committee Judge Mark Bomani, the report was ready and he has booked for an appointment to meet the President.

He told this reporter over the phone yesterday that the committee had followed the President's decision to allow non-partisan review of the mining sector legal regime.

The committee was tasked to gather views from inside and outside the country over legal provisions that need to be changed so that the mining sector could benefit Tanzanians.

According to its terms of reference, the committee was tasked to review all mining contracts and matters connected to large mining firms.

The committee was also to analyse the taxation system currently employed in the mining sector and review the system for supervision of major mining activities by the Government.

The committee was also to examine rights and obligations of the investors and the Government.

Apart from Judge Bomani, other committee members were Kigoma North MP Zitto Kabwe, (Chadema), Kyela MP Dr Harrison Mwakyembe (CCM), Mr Ezekiel Maige (Msalala, CCM), Mr John Cheyo (Bariadi East, CCM) and Peter Machunde of the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange.

Others are Mr David Tarimo, a tax consultant with PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ms Maria Kejo, director of civil and international law in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Salome Makange, chief legal officer at the Ministry of Energy and Minerals and Mr Mugisha Kamugisha, the commissioner for policy in the Ministry of Finance.

Also in the committee is Edward Kihundwa, assistant director for human settlements in the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlements.