Barrick issues 2.3bn/- in royalties to Tarime villages
MARA: BARRICK Gold Corporation, in partnership with the government through Twiga Minerals, has handed over 2.3bn/-in royalty to five villages in Tarime District, Mara Region.
The distribution includes 1.1bn/- handed over yesterday, following the 1.2bn/- that had already allocated in the previous quarters. The amount is for the period ending June this year.
The beneficiary villages are Genkuru, Nyamwaga, Nyangoto, Kerende and Kewanja which received the royalties as part of the company’s commitment to sharing benefits from the gold production at North Mara Gold Mine.
Minerals Minister Antony Mavunde, who graced the event, emphasised the government’s commitment to managing the mining sector to ensure it continues contributing to national economic growth and benefits local communities.
“The government, through mining companies CSR initiatives, recognises the significant contribution these companies make to the community,” Minister Mavunde said.
The event was attended by local villagers, members of the Parliamentary Committee on Minerals, government officials, councillors, village leaders and employees from Barrick North Mara.
Minister Mavunde stressed that the funds provided to the five villages be utilised effectively to reflect the importance of investment in the country’s mining sector.
He also directed the Mining Commission, through the Tarime Resident Mining Officer, to work with the Mara Regional Office to allocate specific areas for youth, women and elders in the Nyamongo area to engage in productive mining activities.
Additionally, Mr Mavunde said that his ministry would collaborate with the Ministry of Agriculture to drill wells in Nyamongo, enhancing water availability for vegetable farming, a project already underway.
The Barrick’s Country Manager, Mr Melkiory Ngido, commended the government for fostering a conducive investment environment.
He pledged the company’s ongoing collaboration with various stakeholders to address community challenges while adhering to the guidance and advice of government leaders to build positive relationships.
Earlier, North Mara Mine General Manager Apolinary Lyambiko said that from 2020 to 2024, the mine has paid 69bn/-to the community and the government.
These payments include royalties to private license holders, contributions to the North Mara Trust Fund for student education, service levies to the Tarime District Council and CSR funds for community development.
The Acting Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy and Minerals, Masache Kasaka, hailed the government for creating a transparent environment for royalty distribution within the mining sector.
Tarime District Commissioner Major Edward Gowele also lauded the government, particularly the Ministry of Minerals, for its efforts to involve the community in national projects.
He emphasised the importance of these projects in ensuring that local communities benefit from the resources in their areas.
Nyangoto Village Chairman, Mwita Musegi, representing the village leaders who received the royalty dividends, thanked Barrick for the funds and assured that they would be well-managed to implement projects aimed at improving villagers’ lives.
Speaking on behalf of Tarime rural Member of Parliament Mwita Waitara, his secretary, Lemi Mkapa, expressed gratitude to the government for its transparent royalty distribution plan.
He noted that these funds would enable the community to initiate social projects and address existing challenges.
