Nchimbi in tete-a-tete with Pope Leo XIV in Vatican

A truck at work in the North Mara Gold Mine

By Lake Zone Watch Writer

Thirteen groups of youth in 11 villages surrounding the North Mara Gold Mine in Tarime district, Mara region, have benefited from the mine’s Community Social Responsibility (CSR)) programme in which 220m/- have been spent towards execution of economic projects.

The money has been disbursed to the select groups as CSR subsidy for last year from the mine under the administration of Barrick in partnership with the Government of Tanzania through a subsidiary company, Twiga Minerals.

According to the Tarime District Council, the CSR funds have enabled 100 group members to start economic ventures of their own choice.

“I thank Barrick (the Community Relations Department) for cooperation in facilitating this CSR subsidy programme for the youth,” the Head of the Community Development Department of the Tarime District Council, Mr Anthony George Nyange, told journalists in Tarime recently .

Her said the projects launched through CSR funds have helped ease the social welfare challenges previously heavily felt by communities in the selected villages.

“The majority beneficiaries are young men and women implementing not only income-generating projects but also to solve other existing challenges,” Mr Nyange said.

He mentioned the beneficiary groups as Mokarambe Agribuness, Hope and Revolution of Economy for Youth, Tunza Mazingira Nyamongo, Amshana Nyamongo na REMHOCHI.

Others are Kazi ni Moyo, Konna Nne, Kiumanya, Ibuka Umoja, Tunaweza Kerende, Nyasa Group, Mtanzamo Youth and Keryoba Group.

Mr Nyange said some of the groups have launched environmental cleanliness projects which have helped keep Nyamongo town tidy.

For example, he said Nyamongo town cleanliness has tremendously improved, thanks to work done by an environmental group which is in the forefront in keeping the town tidy.

He promised that the District Council would continue to set aside a portion of the CSR money to enable youth launch economic projects.

“We expect that this year we will also allocate a portion of the CSR funds to help start income-generating projects,” he said.

“Now, many youth in Nyamongo have economic activities which generate income for them. This programme has lowered the rate of crime previously experienced.”

Apart from the CSR programme, youth, women and the disabled are also beneficiaries of the 10 per cent loans disbursed by the District Council.

Reports show that the Tarime District Council lead other councils in the disbursement of the 10 per cent loans to youth, women and the disabled.