Africa-Press – Tanzania. CCM Presidential running mate, Ambassador Dr Emmanuel Nchimbi, has pledged that in the next five years, strategic rare minerals will be mined by Tanzanians or through partnerships that ensure citizens retain a significant stake.
Speaking at Majengo grounds in Kahama Urban, Shinyanga Region, on Thursday, Dr Nchimbi emphasised that no major nation allows its rare resources to be exploited solely for the benefit of foreigners.
“We will ensure that these rare minerals are mined by Tanzanians themselves or in collaboration with foreign investors, but Tanzanians must have a meaningful share,” he said.
“We will no longer accept the situation where citizens are given a small amount, for example 10m/-, and then sign contracts that exploit them.” Dr Nchimbi further said, adding: “the CCM government will invest in building Tanzanians’ capacity to manage the mining sector and ensure fair revenue sharing in large-scale projects.”
Dr Nchimbi also highlighted the importance of completing the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project, noting that the Isaka– Mwanza section is 63 per cent complete.
“We have planned for this railway to be completed and reach Mwanza by 2026, which will ease transportation and stimulate economic growth,” he said.
Meanwhile, CCM presidential candidate, President Samia Suluhu Hassan, outlined major infrastructure and social projects for Mbeya Region as part of the party’s broader development agenda.
Key initiatives include the construction of the Main Bus Terminal and Soko Matola Market under TACTIC, four-lane roads: Nsalaga–Ifisi and Igawa–Tunduma (272 km), the Uyole Bypass (50 km), Katumba–Mbambo– Tukuyu Road (50 km), and Ibanda–Kajunjumele–Ipinda Port Road (32 km), alongside 12 km of urban roads in Mbeya City.
Other highlighted projects include the Makongolosi–Rungwa Road, AgriConnect roads, establishment of ADEM College, expansion of Mbeya University of Science and Technology (MUST), construction of a cardiac unit at Mbeya Zonal Referral Hospital, 12 irrigation schemes and the completion of Songwe International Airport.
President Samia also mentioned the Uyole International Agricultural Exhibition Grounds, the 400kV TAZA power transmission line, an avocado packaging house, a new outpatient building at Rungwe District Hospital, a branch of the Ocean Road Cancer Institute, and a University of Dar es Salaam campus and training hospital in Mbeya.
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