How much gold is there in Tanzania?

·        Tanzania is lucky to have gold embedded in its soil, which
miners predict can take the country to a long way in achieving its
development goal.

·        The critics of mining firms-a large number-are complaining
that the actual quantities of gold in gold-copper concentrate
impounded in Dar es Salaam  were several times more than the declared
figures. That, they point out, is an indication of gold taken out from
the country illegally.

·        The contrary view dubs this as a theatric aimed at gaining
political mileage. The elections are due this year and mining is one
of the key factors that shape politics and elections, especially in
the Lake Zone area, which is the basket of almost 50 per cent of the
votes.

Tanzania is lucky to have gold embedded in its soil, which miners
predict can take the country to a long way in achieving its
development goal. At the same time, gold has been a bone of contention
and a source of polemics. The country is seemingly in an animated
suspension, despite addressing the problem over several years as to
how much gold is mined out and whether the mined out gold being taken
out of the country is purposely under- valued to escape taxes and
other incidentals.

President John Magufuli had instituted two committees in the previous
years to find out the truth about the gold carried illegally out of
the country and the revenue loss to the exchequer. Yet, the problems
seem to be insurmountable.

Of course, the civil society is divided in their perceptions. The
critics of mining firms-a large number-are complaining that the actual
quantities of gold in gold-copper concentrate impounded in Dar es
Salaam  were several times more than the declared figures. That, they
point out, is an indication of gold taken out from the country
illegally.

The contrary view dubs this as a theatric aimed at gaining political
mileage. The elections are due this year and mining is one of the key
factors that shape politics and elections, especially in the Lake Zone
area, which is the basket of almost 50 per cent of the votes.
Incidentally, Tanzania’s five major gold mines are located in this
belt.  According to a report, Tanzania has a proven and probable
reserves of  2.222 metric tons of gold.  In geological terms, proven
gold reserves would mean the commercially viable for mining; while
probable gold means that the gold on the ground exists but is not sure
of commercial viability.

The flip side of this estimate is that it can keep on changing. The
government in power wants to show everything is happening in
accordance with the rule book, whereas others in the opposition claim
the contrary. Still it is not clear, who is right and who is wrong. So
also are the estimates on gold deposits in Tanzania.