Mara region’s 58.9-ton gold output brings in 6.9trn/-

President Samia Suluhu Hasan receives a dummy cheque worth 93,633,067,640/- as government dividend from Twiga Minerals at a function held in Dar es Salaam yesterday.

By Lake Zone Watch writer

Twiga Minerals, a joint venture firm between the Tanzania government and the global mineral conglomerate, Barrick Mining Corporation, has emerged among state-owned enterprises and institutions which have contributed a huge chunk of money as dividend to the government this year.

Twiga Minerals is entrusted to administer the giant North Mara Gold Mine in Tarime district, Mara region and the Bulyanulu Gold Mine in Kahama district in Shinyanga region, resoectively.

Yesterday, it emerged as the first among 213 public corporations and institutions that excelled in contributing dividend to the government totalling 93.6 billion shillings, followed by Airtel Tanzania – 73.9 billion shillings – and NMB Bank – 68.1 billion shillings, respectively.

The handing over ceremony of the 1.028 trillion-shilling dividend was held in Dar es Salaam yesterday and attended by President Samia Suluhu Hassan as guest of honour.

According to Treasury Registrar, Nehemiah Mchechu, the 1.028 trillion-shilling dividend was an increase of 34 per cent from the previous year’s figure of 767 billion shillings earned by the government.

Speaking at the occasion, President Samia appealed public corporations and institutions to protect and develop government investment in such entities to enable them contribute to national economic development.

She said the transformation of public parastatals has brought achievements, including the emergence of 11 out of 13 state enterprises which had a negative capital to acquiring positive capital status.

The Head of State directed the Treasury Registrar to launch training on capacity building for executives of public corporations to enable them become innovative and increase their competence in the use of modern day information and communication technology.

Similarly, the president directed the Treasury Registrar to make an assessment on increasing public participation in the ownership of public corporations through the Stock Exchange Market.