THE government has acknowledged difficulties in implementing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) regulations for mining licence holders, despite companies contributing over 96.6bn/- to community projects over the past six years.

Dr Steven Kiruswa, minerals deputy minister made the statement recently here at the meeting focused on improving regulations and responsibilities for mining companies.

The session aimed at addressing the obstacles and emphasized the need for regulatory improvements.

“Despite the challenges in CSR, from 2018 to 2023, 96.6bn/- was allocated to CSR projects in regions with mining activities,” he said.

He highlighted that the goal of the regulatory improvements is to enhance collaboration between communities and mining companies, ensuring more effective and sustainable project implementation.

He noted that since 2010 amendment of the mining law to include Article 105, which outlines company responsibilities to the community, there have been significant advancements in the mining sector. 

“However, challenges remain in executing CSR initiatives. The challenges include delays in project planning and execution, absence of clear implementation guidelines, conflicts between councils and licence holders over project scope and execution, and limited community awareness about CSR,” he said.

Dr Kiruswa also mentioned that disputes between mining companies and local government authorities have resulted in some social projects failing to meet community needs and expectations.

Commissioner for Minerals Dr Abdulrahman Mwanga underscored the ministry’s commitment to incorporating stakeholder feedback to improve regulations and overcome existing challenges. The aim is to ensure that Tanzanians continue to benefit from the mining sector.