THE Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, Mr Omar Chambo, has suspended from duty three top leaders of the Mwanshina small scale gold mining association in Nzega District for alleged mismanagement.
Mr Chambo named the suspended leaders as
the Association’s Chairman, Juma James, Secretary General Samwel
Nhindilo and manager of the Mwanshina Gold Mine, Masumbuko Jumanne.
The Permanent Secretary reached the
decision after visiting the mine during his tour where small scale
miners complained that the leaders have been misusing their powers.
During his tour, the small-scale miners
claimed that the leadership was more interested in sharing the profits
instead of taking into account investment and workforce they thus damage
their economic welfare.
“There are a lot of levies and taxes
charged which are not fair and actual, for example high prices are put
in place when we purchase bags of sand,” complained one of the
small-scale miners.
On top of that they said they pay
2,000/-more as gold processing fee for every half a bag of gold which
they claimed is too much for them if they are to prosper in the
business.
They went on claiming that they also
part with 2,000/-as a social services and disaster fee for every bag of
gold sand which they said has not been benefitting them in time of need.
Mr Chambo, thereafter, suspended them
from duty and ordered them to be taken to security organs so that proper
measures are taken against them as well as paying back to the
government the revenue that was not going into state coffers as
required.
Moreover, he assured the small-scale
miners that they will be given plots in which they will be conducting
their business undisturbed as all the needed procedures and guidelines
will be put in place
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