THE government has pledged to continue supporting small-scale miners across the country by creating a friendly environment to enable them to grow.

Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Dr Doto Biteko made the statement here yesterday during the launch of Tanzania Resource Platform.

The two-day event brought together stakeholders from both within and outside Tanzania.

Dr Biteko emphasized the vital role that small-scale miners play in Tanzania’s economy, noting that they make significant contributions to national revenue and economic growth.

He described small-scale miners as key players in the country’s economy, underscoring that the government will continue to support them.

“Small-scale miners are crucial to our national economy; and their contributions should not be underestimated. They currently contribute more than 40 percent of our national revenue and we must support them in their efforts to grow,” he said.

He added: “We need to be transparent with them and guide them to ensure their continued progress in the mining sector.”

He further stressed that the country’s resources belong to the miners and that they should directly benefit from them.

Dr Biteko urged HakiRasilimali, an advocacy group, to highlight the positive contributions of small-scale miners rather than focusing solely on their challenges which could discourage their efforts.

“This platform should celebrate the good work being done by small-scale miners. They make a positive impact in the sector and it’s important we recognise and encourage them,” he said.

Dr David Mathayo, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Energy and Minerals, called for the development of safer alternatives to mercury for gold processing.

He highlighted the health and environmental risks associated with mercury use, which remains a common practice among small-scale miners.

“The government should invest in safer and more efficient technologies for mineral extraction and processing. Providing capital support for small-scale miners is also essential to help them adopt better practices,” he said.

HakiRasilimali Director Adam Antony called for alternative mining methods, particularly those that do not involve mercury.

Antony pointed out that mercury use has become a major issue for small-scale miners and urged the government to explore and develop technologies that would enable miners to extract and process minerals more safely and efficiently.

Minerals Minister Antony Mavunde, noted that small-scale miners make steady progress and that the government will continue to work closely with them to ensure their development.

He emphasized that the government’s commitment to supporting small-scale miners remains strong and that collaboration with the mining sector would continue to foster growth.