the land factor in mining gold reserves in tanzania

This policy briefing examines the conflicts between land tenure and gold mining in Tanzania, highlighting how contradictory legal frameworks between land and mineral laws lead to land degradation, community displacement, and social tension. It argues that while gold production is a significant economic driver, the benefits are not reaching local communities, and recommends harmonizing the land and mining cadastres and improving compensation frameworks.

• Gold production is a critical component of Tanzania's economy, with proven reserves exceeding 36 million oz. As of 2011, gold accounted for over 41.3% of export earnings and 75% of foreign direct investment (FDI), contributing 3.6% of GDP and 4% of its growth.
• There is a significant disconnect between the economic wealth generated by large-scale gold mines and the development of surrounding communities. A study indicated that the revenue these companies contribute to social and community programs is negligible, with wealth primarily used for company operations, management, and financing.
• Large-scale gold mining causes severe environmental degradation. Extracting one ounce of gold requires removing over 250 tons of rock and ore. In the Tarime District, chemical disposals from the North Mara Mine (NMM) between 2005 and 2008 resulted in heavy metal levels exceeding WHO, US, and Tanzanian standards, contaminating the Tigithe River and causing deaths among people and domestic animals.
• Artisanal and small-scale miners (ASMs) also contribute to land degradation through shallow, widespread excavations and the use of narrow pits and tunnels prone to collapse. ASMs are difficult to regulate and often ignore existing land tenure and land-use arrangements, leading to violent conflicts.
• Mining companies may use the legal definition of 'hazardous land' to displace communities. While the Land Act (1999) defines hazardous land as land that poses a danger to life or leads to environmental destruction, reports suggest the North Mara Mine spread waste over large areas to drive away communities and claim land, even where no minerals were present.
• Conflicts arise from the disharmony between the Land Act and the Minerals Act. While land laws use fixed boundaries and georeferenced coordination, underground mineral interests cannot be fixed for registration. This contradiction, combined with the fact that mineral laws take precedence over surface rights once gold is discovered, fuels tensions between investors and communities.
• Compensation for land loss is often insufficient and fails to address the deep ancestral and emotional attachment communities have to their land. While a recent amendment to the Mining Act now includes opportunity costs in compensation negotiations, the author suggests that co-ownership of mines through shareholding is a superior alternative to monetary compensation.

APA

Lugoe, F. (2011). the land factor in mining gold reserves in tanzania. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Policy-Briefing-34.pdf

Chicago

Lugoe, Furaha. the land factor in mining gold reserves in tanzania. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2011. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Policy-Briefing-34.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Lugoe |first1=Furaha |title=the land factor in mining gold reserves in tanzania |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=July 2011 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Policy-Briefing-34.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{lugoe2011land, author = {Lugoe, Furaha}, title = {{the land factor in mining gold reserves in tanzania}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2011}, month = jul, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Policy-Briefing-34.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }