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Malima: Govt wooing mining investments
2008-02-16 09:19:21
By Angel Navuri, Dodoma
Deputy Minister for Energy and Minerals Adam Malima has said that the government will not bar investors applying for mining licences in the country in a bid to create employment for Tanzanians.
Malima made the remarks yesterday in the National Assembly when replying to a question by Ole Bakar Faki, who demanded to know whether the government was planning to ban mining companies from acquiring licences in the country.
Adam said the 1998 Mining Act did not bar any mining company from getting a licence as mining companies increased employment opportunities in the country.
``All application forms for mining licenses have conditions that require applicants to employ Tanzanians and to give them responsible positions according to their qualifications. A company is also forced to train Tanzanians who will understudy expatriates with a view to improving their skills,`` he said.
He added that foreigners who work in mining companies are handled by the mining department, ministry of Labour the Tanzania Investment Centre and immigration before they secure work permits.
``They are only allowed to work in areas that the country has no qualified people. They cannot work in areas that Tanzanians can handle,`` he said.
Malima noted that the country will not allow foreigners to be employed as drivers, security guards cooks or gardeners.
According to the minister, Tancut Mining Company and Tanzania Meerschaum Company were wound up by the goernment while state holding in Williamson Diamonds was reduced from 50 per cent to 25 per cent in 1994.
Malima said the government had already privatised some of its mining companies, including Kiwira Coal Mines, Nyanza Salt Mines, Coastal Salt Works, Pugu Kaolin Mines, Buckreef Gold Mining and Minjingu Phosphate Company.
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