Dar es Salaam. Minerals worth Sh15 billion were
seized while in the process of being smuggled out of the country
between July 2012 and November 2013, it has been established.
The seizure followed cargo inspection conducted at airports by the mineral audit agency.
Speaking during the inauguration of the fifth
Tanzania Minerals Audit Agency Consultative Board meeting (TMAA)
yesterday, board chairman Yamungu Kayandabila said since the
installation of the inspection system in July last year, 32 smuggling
cases have been dealt with.
“Appropriate legal action has been taken against
the culprits, including confiscation of the minerals by the government,”
said Dr Kayandabila.
Of the total amount, Sh1.9 billion worth of minerals were seized between May and November this year.
“Between May 2013 and November, there were 17 cases of mineral smuggling,” he said.
He, however, urged mining stakeholders and
Tanzanians to report illegal dealings in minerals to TMAA as they
stagnate the countries development.
Meanwhile, Energy and Minerals deputy minister
George Simbachawene said mining must be properly regulated because once
extracted, nothing is left behind.
“If we are not careful enough in how we monitor
this industry, we won’t reap the rightful benefits from it,” said Mr
Simbachawene.
The contribution of the mining sector to the
Growth Domestic Product (GDP) in 2012 was 3.5 per cent, at the same time
the country’s Vision 2025 projects that this should grow to 10 per cent
by that year.
“The projection of ensuring that the mining sector
contributes 10 per cent of the GDP come 2025 can only be realised if
TMAA improves its efficiency,” challenged Mr Simbachawene.
During the event, the mineral audit agency also
revealed the contribution of big gold mining companies to the national
economy for the period from May to November 2013.
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