North Mara mine expansion: Rights cleared, community benefits grow”

MARA: In the quiet villages of Komarera and Kewanja, nestled in the Tarime District of Mara Region, the land holds more than just soil and water.

Beneath it lies a rich gold seam, which has made this area both a promise of prosperity and a source of conflict.

The North Mara Gold Mine, a joint venture between Barrick Gold and the Government of Tanzania through Twiga Minerals Corporation, has been at the heart of this story—one of expansion, development, and the delicate balance between progress and human rights.

In July 2024, the Human Rights and Good Governance Commission (CHRGG) released a report that would settle, at least for now, one of the key questions surrounding the mine: were the rights of local villagers violated during the company’s land acquisition for its expansion?

The Commission’s findings, drawn from an investigation sparked by complaints from the community, concluded that North Mara Gold Mine had followed legal procedures in acquiring 652 acres of land in Komarera.

According to the report, all parties were involved in the process, and citizens whose land was taken were fairly compensated. CHRGG Chairperson Retired Judge Mathew Mwaimu stood behind the findings, affirming that the acquisition was conducted with transparency and fairness.

But this wasn’t the first time the mine had been in the spotlight.

Back in December 2023, a report by Mining Watch Canada had raised alarms, accusing the North Mara Gold Mine of forcibly displacing thousands of Kurya community members during the expansion of its operations.

The report painted a grim picture: families uprooted, homes demolished, and livelihoods lost, all to make way for the mine. It alleged that in 2021 and 2022, as the mine expanded, some families were pushed off their land in waves, with significant displacements occurring as recently as September 2023.

The news hit hard. The Kurya people, known for their deep connection to their ancestral lands, were now portrayed as victims of corporate expansion. This led to an outcry, both locally and internationally, with human rights organizations and media outlets calling for accountability.

North Mara Gold Mine was quick to respond. Barrick Gold’s President and CEO, Mark Bristow, dismissed the allegations, calling them “unfounded and ill-intentioned.”

He pointed out that the mine had long engaged with the local community and civil society organizations to address any concerns.

“We pride ourselves on our commitment to transparency and community engagement,” Bristow said in a statement, available on the company’s website. The mine had held numerous meetings and worked on projects aimed at building trust with its neighbors, he emphasized.

Building relationships, not just mines

Indeed, North Mara Gold Mine has been working to cultivate not just gold but relationships in the region. Through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, the mine has invested billions of Tanzanian shillings into the Tarime Rural District, funding local development projects that range from business training for small and medium-sized enterprises to constructing a 300,000-litre water tank in Mjini Kati village.

The water project alone, valued at 435,000 US dollars , now serves over 30,000 people in four villages, with plans to expand access to all 11 villages neighbouring the mine.

The business development program, launched in 2021, has become a beacon of hope for many local entrepreneurs. Offering professional training and consulting services, it has helped local businesses gain a foothold in the mine’s supply chain. The number of local suppliers working with the mine has skyrocketed—from 58 in 2019 to over 200 in 2022.

In that same period, spending on local goods and services more than doubled, from 50 million US dollars to 83 million US dollars.

For Barrick, these initiatives are not just about corporate image—they are about fostering long-term relationships. The company recognizes that without the support of the local community, mining operations would be far more challenging.

The crowning moment of this bond came in a unique public ceremony in the Nyamongo area last year. Twelve traditional leaders from the Kurya clans bestowed upon Mark Bristow the title of clan leader, acknowledging his role in advancing the region’s development. The honor, granted at Ingwe Secondary School grounds, marked a rare moment where corporate leadership met with age-old tradition.

Moving forward, together

Despite the positive developments, some tensions remain. The CHRGG report may have cleared the North Mara Gold Mine of human rights violations in the latest land acquisition, but the scars of past conflicts are not easily erased. Mistrust lingers among some villagers, and the shadow of the Mining Watch Canada allegations still hangs over the mine’s public image.

At the same time, the mine’s efforts to integrate local suppliers and invest in the community cannot be overlooked. The Tarime district is benefiting from roads, schools, and water infrastructure that may not have existed without the mine’s presence.

And for many local entrepreneurs and suppliers, the mine has become a crucial partner, helping them grow their businesses and secure a stable income.

Perhaps the most telling symbol of North Mara Gold Mine’s changing relationship with the community is the growing recognition of its CSR efforts. In 2023 alone, the mine spent over 7.0bn/- on local development, and it has pledged to increase that investment to over 9.0bn/- in 2024.

As for the future, the mine’s ongoing projects, including plans to provide water to all 11 neighbouring villages and expand business opportunities for local suppliers, signal its intent to remain a vital part of the region’s economic landscape.

Whether this will fully heal past wounds remains to be seen, but for now, both the mine and the community seem to be moving forward—if not in perfect harmony, then at least with a shared sense of purpose.