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A truck at work in the North Mara Gold Mine

By Lake Zone Watch Writer
Tarime
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Leaders at the level of villages and wards, who include traditional, religious as well those from civil society in Tarime district, Mara region, have teamed up to thank the North Mara Gold Mine for its efforts in spearheading community development in the surrounding villages.

The leaders thanked the mine during a special workshop held on Friday last week which discussed at length the community benefits accrued from the presence of the mine in nearby villages.

The participants included chairmen and executive officers from the 11 villages close to the mine, councilors from five nearby wards, representatives of district councils, traditional, religious and civil society leaders, police and Tarime and Rorya District Commissioners.

Tarime district is where the North Mara Gold Mine, operated by Barrick in partnership with the government of Tanzania through Twiga Minerals, is located.

The participants explained how the villagers benefit from projects funded through the mine’s Community Social Responsibility (CSR) programme and royalty.

“Now we’re talking one language with Barrick North Mara. I can’t say something bad about it when it gives us our rights – we get development,” said Juma Elias Kegoye, the Genkuru village chairman.

With a population of 5,000 residents, Genkuru village has broken the record for receiving 2.7bn/- which is the one percent royalty from Barrick North Mara since 2024.

The village government has used the royalty funds towards the construction of a 10-km road to gravel level, Kegoye said.

There are also plans to build another road and and a village market, he added.

Special Seats Councillor Mariam Mkono of Nyamwaga ward summed up the feelings of fellow participants, saying that the “sectoral development brought by Barrick is for everyone to see and the community has no grievances against the investor.”

That led to the participants’ pledge to cooperate and protect the mine at any cost for bringing enviable progresses to the 11 nearby villages.