Revealed: Tanzania`s shocking vast wealth

[Mhafidhina]

My dear JF fellow, am seriously touched with this story i found from the Guardian News Paper today. Its saddening to learn this information, am crying for my motherland Tanzania, when shall we change for better? Read the story bellow

Revealed: Tanzania`s shocking vast wealth

2008-08-31 09:07:51
By Staff Writer

As massive poverty continues to rock the majority of Tanzanians, the latest data reveal that Tanzania`s wealth in terms of the top five metals out of eleven provable mineral deposits amounting to millions of tonnes.

It is hard to believe it, but that is the reality in a country where 38million plus population lives in abject poverty, below a dollar per day, while 89percent of the total population survive on a single meal per day.

According to a geological survey conducted last year by the ministry of energy and minerals, Tanzania has huge reserves in eleven key minerals which include gold, Nickel, Tanzanite, Diamonds, copper, Iron ore, coal, Limestone, soda ash, gypsum and phosphate.

The five key minerals and their provable amounts in brackets is Gold (2,222tones), Nickel (209million tones), Diamonds (Carat 50.9million), Copper (13.65million tones), and Iron ore (103million tones).

However since this was just a geological survey undertaken by experts last year, its actual result is approximated to be accurate by up to 70 percent.

So far, only three types of minerals - gold, diamonds, Tanzanite - are being fully mined by multinational companies which at the end of the day take 97percent, leaving only peanut to the original Tanzanian owners.

If well managed through sound, people-centered mining policies, the mining sector can catapult Tanzanians to the proverbial promised land in decades and generations to come.

Comparing these huge deposits and the actual situation of poverty in the country, the message that comes across one`s mind is that Tanzania is in what experts describe as `resource curse`.

The term `resource curse` refers to the observation that nations with rich endowments of natural resources (oil, metals, timber) often dramatically under-perform economically relative to what one would expect.

Common sense and simple economics suggest that countries blessed with an abundance of natural resources should live long and prosper.

Yet over many years, it has been observed that nations rich in oil, gas, or mineral resources have been disadvantaged in the drive for economic progress.

Why are we poor?

Perhaps the biggest question that begs an urgent answer is; why are we so poor despite having all these huge minerals deposits?

It is a question that policy makers and politicians have been avoiding to seek answers for.

Tanzania like many other African countries is highly blessed with rich natural resources, but its people are swimming in the deep sea of massive poverty.

But the appalling truth is that instead of financing people`s development, Africa\\'s huge mineral resources were used to fund the brutal civil wars that ravaged millions of people during the past four decades.

Today in Africa only a few countries like Botswana, Ghana and South Africa have managed to use their natural resources, especially minerals, to facilitate development and welfare to their people.

This example is vividly manifested in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Sudan and Angola whereby masters of the wars used natural resources to finance their deadly power struggle.

However in Tanzania, there wasn`t any civil war apart from the role played by the founding President, (the late) Dr Julius Nyerere, in liberating Southern African countries during the nationalist struggle.

While it is an undeniable truth that the move to allow the private sector to participate in the mining industry was brilliant one, the truth is that due to poor policies introduced by the third phase government, the whole idea has become a disaster to Tanzanians.

This is well echoed in the lucrative mining industry which has been mainly benefiting multinational companies, while paying the government a small slice of the cake.

Last year, for instance, the Minister for Energy and Minerals, William Ngeleja, told the parliament that during the period between 2001 and 2006, Tanzania produced gold worth $2.6 billion (Tshs3.38 trillion), but the government earned only $78 million.

In simple arithmetic, this is just 3 percent of the total revenues generated from thousands of tonnes of gold produced in the Lake Victoria gold belt. It also shows that the government earned an average of $13 million annually during that period from the multibillion industry whose real investments currently is valued at $2.5 billion.

According to the available statistics from the mining industry, from June 2000 to December 2006, the two biggest gold mines in the country produced a total of 5,686,710 ounces of gold, which at the current gold price of $600 per ounce is valued at Tshs 4.3 trillion ($ 3.3 billion), but what the nation earned is frightening and a shame.

While mineral production has increased in Tanzania in the past few years with export per year estimated to be nearly $900 million (Tshs1.17 trillion), the contribution of the mining sector to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) remains very minimal, accounting to 3 percent.

According to the National Economic Survey report released in 2006, the growth rate of mining and quarrying sector increased from 15.4 percent in 2004 to 15.7 percent in 2005, whereby the increment was attributed to new investments in Tulawaka gold mines in Biharamulo District, Kagera Region.

The report further states that, the contribution of the sector to GDP, which is the total value of goods and services produced in a country during a year, increased from 3.2 percent in 2004 to 3.5 percent in 2007.

We would like to hear from you about this story; what you think the problem is, and what needs to be done. Send your comments through sundayguardian@guardian.co.tz

 

[BAK]

Last year, for instance, the Minister for Energy and Minerals, William Ngeleja, told the parliament that during the period between 2001 and 2006, Tanzania produced gold worth $2.6 billion (Tshs3.38 trillion), but the government earned only $78 million.

In simple arithmetic, this is just 3 percent of the total revenues generated from thousands of tonnes of gold produced in the Lake Victoria gold belt. It also shows that the government earned an average of $13 million annually during that period from the multibillion industry whose real investments currently is valued at $2.5 billion.

According to the available statistics from the mining industry, from June 2000 to December 2006, the two biggest gold mines in the country produced a total of 5,686,710 ounces of gold, which at the current gold price of $600 per ounce is valued at Tshs 4.3 trillion ($ 3.3 billion), but what the nation earned is frightening and a shame.

While mineral production has increased in Tanzania in the past few years with export per year estimated to be nearly $900 million (Tshs1.17 trillion), the contribution of the mining sector to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) remains very minimal, accounting to 3 percent.

sundayguardian@guardian.co.tz

JK wakati wa kampeni zake aliahidi 'kuiangalia' upya mikataba ya madini ili iwe na maslahi kwa Tanzania. Tangu aingie madarakani huu ni mwaka wa tatu hakuna chochote alichokifanya. Aliunda kamati ya madini ambayo mapendekezo yake alimkabidhi Ngeleja na kumwambia ayafanyie kazi kwa 'wiki mbili' tangu June, 2008 kama sikosei. Mpaka leo hii Ngeleja hajasema chochote kuhusiana na 'kazi' aliyotumwa na JK akiwa bado 'anasubiri' ruhusa ya kufanya hivyo toka kwa Spika wa Bunge na JK kama kawaida yake ya 'kiguu na njia'.

Nimeshasema hapa kwamba hatuna viongozi ambao wanajali maslahi ya nchi yetu. Sioni sababu yoyote ya miaka mitatu kukatika bila hatua zozote za kuandika mikataba mipya mabyo itahakikisha Watanzania tunanufaika na rasilimali zetu badala ya kuendelea kuwanufaisha 'wachukuaji na wageni'

 

[Rev. Kishoka]

The only way to handle this is through ballot. However we can not even trust our representatives to do the right thing because of grand corruption amongts them and the new campaign by Mtandao to install representatives who will protect the interests of Mtandao!

 

[Mhafidhina]

The only way to handle this is through ballot. However we can not even trust our representatives to do the right thing because of grand corruption amongts them and the new campaign by Mtandao to install representatives who will protect the interests of Mtandao!

Rev Kishoka

I came across this quote, "Bad Leaders are elected by Good Citizens who do not vote...!" So however much we do we shall still remain with bad leaders until a day when we do not have "good citizens" to put them into power!

 

[Koba]

...wa kujilaumu ni watanzania wenyewe wanaoiweka CCM madarakani,nasikia na Lowassa ndio kasimikwa uongozi na kabila fulani baada ya kuiliza nchi billions,hakuna excuse wala shortcut yeyote zaidi ya kuwapiga nje CCM la sivyo poverty ndio order of the day,kama KANU imetoka CCM itatoka tuu maana ndio matatizo yote yanaanzia hapo!

 

[Fugwe]

I suggest the following:
+The secrecy that surrounding the process of making contracts with foreing investors should be removed and allow people, intellectuals, professionals and all well wishers to contribute their ideas and cementing where the Govt has gone wrong in making those contracts.

Gvt should facilitates local investors by building their capacities in mining so that they can exploit our natural resources for the benefiti of Tanzanians. Scrutinization should be done before allowing our local investors to prevent giving tenders for corrupt companies

 

[Pundamilia07]

Last year, for instance, the Minister for Energy and Minerals, William Ngeleja, told the parliament that during the period between 2001 and 2006, Tanzania produced gold worth $2.6 billion (Tshs3.38 trillion), but the government earned only $78 million.

 

[Mchola]

Last year, for instance, the Minister for Energy and Minerals, William Ngeleja, told the parliament that during the period between 2001 and 2006, Tanzania produced gold worth $2.6 billion (Tshs3.38 trillion), but the government earned only $78 million.

Habari hii inauma sana!!!!
Viongozi wneye uchu wa kujinufaisha wataipeleka nchi hii pabaya. Wananchi wakishachoka na hali hii patakalika hapa Tz kweli. You can fool some people for some time but you can not fool alll the people all the TIME.

Historia itamuhukumu kiongozi yeyote mwenye dhamana ya kuhakikisha waTz wanafaidi matunda ya utajiri waliopewa na mwenyezi Mungu lakini anajinufaisha yeye na familia yake.

Kinachonishangaza mimi ni ubinafsi wa mtu anayejiita kiongozi akapokea rushwa kutoka kwa mwekeezaji mgeni ili awaibie watz wenzake. Hivi hiyo ni akili au matope????

 

[Pundamilia07]

Last year, for instance, the Minister for Energy and Minerals, William Ngeleja, told the parliament that during the period between 2001 and 2006, Tanzania produced gold worth $2.6 billion (Tshs3.38 trillion), but the government earned only $78 million.

I am trying to figure out Mh. William Ngeleja alipewa lini dhamana ya kuongoza Wizara ya Nishati na Madini

 

[PatPending]

Ukitaka kula sharti uliwe

 

[The Khoisan]

I am trying to figure out Mh. William Ngeleja alipewa lini dhamana ya kuongoza Wizara ya Nishati na Madini

It doesn't matter who was there!! The fact here is JK's goverment has not done anythis about it. Tatizo la msingi hapa JK na circle yake wanatudanganya kila kukicha na WaTZ kama wewe na mimi bado tumeridhika.

 

[Pundamilia07]

It doesn't matter who was there!! The fact here is JK's goverment has not done anythis about it. Tatizo la msingi hapa JK na circle yake wanatudanganya kila kukicha na WaTZ kama wewe na mimi bado tumeridhika.

Nilichofanya ni kutoa angalizo kwa faida ya wasomaji kwani kama taarifa imebeba makosa basi hata kuaminika kwake kunaweza kuleta mashaka. Si kila kitu kinachukuliwa kama kilivyo, chekecha!

 

[Halisi]

Nilichofanya ni kutoa angalizo kwa faida ya wasomaji kwani kama taarifa imebeba makosa basi hata kuaminika kwake kunaweza kuleta mashaka. Si kila kitu kinachukuliwa kama kilivyo, chekecha!

Pundamilia07, usemayo ni hakika. Lazima waandishi wawe makini. Ni hatari sana kwa mwandishi kufanya makosa ya wazi kama haya.

Kwa taarifa na kwa kuweka kumbukumbu sahihi ni kwamba Ngeleja ameteuliwa kuwa Waziri kamili Februari 2008 kwa hiyo hakuwa Waziri kabla ya hapo. Kabla ya hapo alikuwa Naibu Waziri wa Wizara hiyo nafasi aliyopewa Desemba 2007, kiasi kwamba asingeweza hata kuwa ametoa kauli hiyo katika kipindi kifupi tena akiwa Naibu Waziri na kipindi ambacho hakukuwa na kikao cha Bunge hadi mwanzoni mwa mwaka huu.

 

[wajinga]

ukiliwa kila siku si utaitwa bwege.

 

[Mwikimbi]

to handle situation back to control by ballots? i say no! hakuna mahali popote duniani unaweza kuzungumzia kuuondoa umaskini kwa kutumia mali adimu za ardhini kama madini na mafuta kwa ballots

kuvaa makombati ndo njia sahihi katika hili

 

[Triplets]

ona sasa..dhahabu imebaki tani 2222...tanzanite nayo hiyoo! pengine ndio wanakwangua ya mwisho mwisho...it is unbelievable, baada ya muda itakuwa historia tu kwamba "ooh!..unajua miaka sisi tupo shule ya msingi nchi hii ilikuwa na tani milioni so and so za gold, copper, iron na kadhalika"

wakati huo umaskini ndio utakuwa umeshamiri kisawa sawa na ardhi ya tanzania itakuwa haina hata nusu kilo ya madini...mafisadi wote watakuwa wamepumzika makaburini mwao baada ya kuzikwa kwa heshima zoote...watoto na wajukuu zao watakuwa wameshapata uraia huko huko waliko sasa - ulaya na marekani...tena watakuwa wanatu mock tu "Africans are lazy and stupid" kama westerners wengine wanavyo tumock sasa hivi

if there is ANYTHING to be done it has to be done NOW!!!!

 

[FairPlayer]

Jamani kila siku tunalialia. Naomba tutoe mawazo mmbadala badala ya kulia na serikali tu!

 

[Rev. Kishoka]

Pundamilia na Halisi,

Nafikiri alichokosea mwandishi ni kanuni za uandishi na hakuwa na maana kuwa Ngeleja alikuwa waziri mwaka jana.

Nilivyoelewa mimi hiyo tungo ni kuwa Ngeleja alikuwa akiongelea takwimu za mwaka uliopita na si kwamba yeye alikuwa ni waziri wa nishati na madini!

On the other hand, mnaona disparity ya mapato?

 

[Triplets]

Jamani kila siku tunalialia. Naomba tutoe mawazo mmbadala badala ya kulia na serikali tu!

hakuna mawazo mbadala mapya tunayoweza kuyatoa ndio maana tunabaki kulia kulia tu na ku vent na kudiscuss yatakayotokea in the near future ili angalau tujiandae kisaikolojia tusije geuka kuwa nchi ya vichaa...

... ushauri ni huu mmoja tu unaojulikana wazi kabisa kwa kila mtanzania, lakini haufuatwi na hatuna uwezo wa kulazimisha ufuatwe...!

- umbua hadharani mikataba yote isiyonufaisha mtanzania
- wataje na kuwa wajibisha kisheria wale wote walihusika ktk kusaini mikataba hiyo, iwe kwa kupewa rushwa au kwa ujinga
- pale inapowezekana futa au rekebisha mikataba ili imnufaishe mtanzania

au kuna jipya jingine lolote la kufanya jamani?!

 

[Pundamilia07]

Pundamilia na Halisi,

Nafikiri alichokosea mwandishi ni kanuni za uandishi na hakuwa na maana kuwa Ngeleja alikuwa waziri mwaka jana.

Nilivyoelewa mimi hiyo tungo ni kuwa Ngeleja alikuwa akiongelea takwimu za mwaka uliopita na si kwamba yeye alikuwa ni waziri wa nishati na madini!

On the other hand, mnaona disparity ya mapato?

Rev Kishoka,

Nilichofanya ni kutoa angalizo kwa maana kuwa si kila kitu kinachoaandikwa kiko sawasawa. endapo kama kuna makosa ambayo yanaweza kugundulika bila ya kuhitaji kazi kubwa, je tutakuwa na uhakika gani na hizo takwimu alizoziweka?
Nitakupa mfano mmoja; Kuna kipindi fulani miaka ya nyuma gazeti la Financial Times (Gazeti la IPP lililokuwa lina ripoti masuala ya biashara) lilikuwa linatoa taarifa ya viwango vya kubadilisha pesa vikiwa na makosa. Na tatizo hilo lilikuwa likijitokeza kila gazeti lilipokuwa linachapishwa. Kwa nyakati tofauti nilimpigia simu Mhariri wake Bw. Mushi lakini hakuwa na majibu juu ya makosa yaliyokuwa yanachapishwa katika kila toleo. Taarifa ile iliendelea kupotosha watumiaji, nikaamua kumpigia simu Managing Editor Bw. Urasa ndiye ambaye baadae alifanya uchunguzi na kuona kuwa taarifa zile hazikuwa sahihi.
Kwa hiyo basi kwa kutoa angalizo inasaidia sisi watumiaji wa taarifa hizo kujua yapi ni sahihi. Kwa kweli siwezi kukaa kimya endapo nimeona kuna kasoro kwani wanaondika hizi makala huwa binadamu kama sisi na wanamapungufu yao. I don't need to be impressed, I need a complete work with good quality.