Western exploitation of Tanzania for gold, moral outcry

[Hute]

kiukweli, mimi nimekaa sana kahama, nzega na Geita, nimejihusisha sana na madini...sijakaa kishapu huko kwenye mwadui diamond....

Hawa jamaa wanaiba sana madini yetu, amini usiamini kila wiki kuna ndege inapelekea mitofali ya dhahabu toka kahama kwenda DSM, GM wa kahama anayesimamia migodi ya bunzwagi, Bulyanhulu na Tulawaka wa biharamuro halali kule, kuna ndege inamchukua kumpaleka dsm kila siku na kumrudisha asubuhi....

Wanapitisha mafuta yao yote wanayotumia kwenye mitambo bila hata kodi, wanaspend sana lakini hawapati hasara kwasababu wanapata dhahabu nyingi sana, kwasababu tulishaingia nao mkataba wa kupata iyo murahaba wa asilimia tatu, hatuwezi kubadilisha sasaivi watatushitaki kama ilivyokuwa kwa dowans tukalipa mamia ya mabilion....

Tutaendelea kunyonywa na tumefungwa mikono na miguu kwa mikataba ambayo either viongozi wetu waliingia kwa maslahi yao au hawakuwa na akili za kugundua hila za wawekezaji hawa....hata kama kuna milioni kama mia mbili wanatoa kwenye kila halmashauri kila mwaka, hiyo haifiki hata asilimia moja ya faida wanayoipata...wanaiba madini yetu wapendavyo na sisi tumekaa kimya.

cha maana, kwa migodi mingine ambayo inagundulika, au kwa gas au mafuta yanayogundulika, tuwe tumejifunza namna ya kuingia mikataba, ili ifaidishe watz.....nimejaribu kumpinga huyo mkenya juu kwasababu nimeona anaongea kwa ushabiki zaidi akiwa amesahau kuwa wao pia wana umasikini wa kutupa....

Pamoja na kwamba Gitau alikuwa anasema ukweli, lakini amenikera pale mwisho kuonyesha wazi kuwa juhudi zoote hizi za kutoa poit alikuwa anataka kuhamasisha kuwa watz tuingia moja kwa moja EAC ili wakenya na wengine watusaidie kutonyonywa, sijui kama matatizo yetu yanaweza kutatuliwa na mkenya, mganda etc....na sio sisi wenyewe.

EAC tumejifunza mengi enyi wakenya eleweni.hilo shirika la ndege ambalo mnajidai nalo, lilikuwa la africa mashariki na msingi ulitokea hapo ndo maana mpo hadi leo...makao yake makuu yangekuwa tz, nyie pia mngekuwa mnahaha kama sisi....tutashirikiana katika EAC lakini tutakuwa makini sana kwasababu wakenye mlitutapeli mengi sana ktk ile community ya kwanza iliyovunjika.

 

[Kichuguu]

Don't Blame Barrick, they are just a business entity striving to maximize profits.

All the blame must go to Mkapa, Sumaye, Kikwete and CCM in general. Mkapa and Kikwete in particular should be subjected to a very harsh and very painful punishment for these economic crimes against the nation. When Nyerere was careful on how these minerals should be used to benefit the country, these buffoons destroyed every vision that the old man had, and rushed into contracts that are now leaving the country even poorer. They heavily thought for themselves, leaving the whole country with nothing to boast of.

 

[Zakumi]

Mineral resources have been in the country for thousands years. So if we were that clever as we try to believe, we would have taken advantage of them. We haven't. So stop whining and let Barick teach Tanzanians the hard way.

 

[BAK]

kiukweli, mimi nimekaa sana kahama, nzega na Geita, nimejihusisha sana na madini...sijakaa kishapu huko kwenye mwadui diamond....

Hawa jamaa wanaiba sana madini yetu, amini usiamini kila wiki kuna ndege inapelekea mitofali ya dhahabu toka kahama kwenda DSM, GM wa kahama anayesimamia migodi ya bunzwagi, Bulyanhulu na Tulawaka wa biharamuro halali kule, kuna ndege inamchukua kumpaleka dsm kila siku na kumrudisha asubuhi....

Wanapitisha mafuta yao yote wanayotumia kwenye mitambo bila hata kodi, wanaspend sana lakini hawapati hasara kwasababu wanapata dhahabu nyingi sana, kwasababu tulishaingia nao mkataba wa kupata iyo murahaba wa asilimia tatu, hatuwezi kubadilisha sasaivi watatushitaki kama ilivyokuwa kwa dowans tukalipa mamia ya mabilion....

Tutaendelea kunyonywa na tumefungwa mikono na miguu kwa mikataba ambayo either viongozi wetu waliingia kwa maslahi yao au hawakuwa na akili za kugundua hila za wawekezaji hawa....hata kama kuna milioni kama mia mbili wanatoa kwenye kila halmashauri kila mwaka, hiyo haifiki hata asilimia moja ya faida wanayoipata...wanaiba madini yetu wapendavyo na sisi tumekaa kimya.

cha maana, kwa migodi mingine ambayo inagundulika, au kwa gas au mafuta yanayogundulika, tuwe tumejifunza namna ya kuingia mikataba, ili ifaidishe watz.....nimejaribu kumpinga huyo mkenya juu kwasababu nimeona anaongea kwa ushabiki zaidi akiwa amesahau kuwa wao pia wana umasikini wa kutupa....

Pamoja na kwamba Gitau alikuwa anasema ukweli, lakini amenikera pale mwisho kuonyesha wazi kuwa juhudi zoote hizi za kutoa poit alikuwa anataka kuhamasisha kuwa watz tuingia moja kwa moja EAC ili wakenya na wengine watusaidie kutonyonywa, sijui kama matatizo yetu yanaweza kutatuliwa na mkenya, mganda etc....na sio sisi wenyewe.

EAC tumejifunza mengi enyi wakenya eleweni.hilo shirika la ndege ambalo mnajidai nalo, lilikuwa la africa mashariki na msingi ulitokea hapo ndo maana mpo hadi leo...makao yake makuu yangekuwa tz, nyie pia mngekuwa mnahaha kama sisi....tutashirikiana katika EAC lakini tutakuwa makini sana kwasababu wakenye mlitutapeli mengi sana ktk ile community ya kwanza iliyovunjika.

Nimependa bandiko lako hili tofauti na lile la kwanza. Mkenya, Mtanzania, Mganda au Mwafrika yoyote yule ana haki kulalamika pale ambapo anaona rasilimali za nchi moja ya Afrika zinaibiwa bila kuwanufaisha wananchi wa nchi husika. Kenya na Uganda kumegunduliwa mafuta mengi sana naomba Mungu nchi hizo ziwe makini katika kuhakikisha mikataba wanayosaini na kampuni toka nje za uchimbaji wa mafuta itakuwa na neema kubwa kwa nchi hizo mbili na labda Afrika Mashariki na ya kati.

 

[Njowepo]

Hili suala lisitumike kama kigezo cha kutushawishi kusign kila kitu for EAC apo huyu mdada ndo ameteleza!
Ivi huu wizi IMF NA world bank hawauoni?Alafu wanajifanya kurudisha chenji kama donors pumbavu sana.
Ila yote haya yana mwisho wake.
Tunaibiwa nao wako kimya!

 

[Bigirita]

That is facts am Tanzanian and am from where these mines are exploited much....try to visit kishapu mwadui shinyanga come across Mara nyamongo tembelea Geita yani utaria na kinachoendelea uko...

I've been in Mwadui pale kuna DIAMOND kibao lakini angalia kishapu ikoje ata maji hakuna na kuna uwanja wa ndege yani wanajibebea watakavyo tembelea migodi mingine same story...

Mie nadhani apa atujadiri ukenya wala uTanzania ata km ni Mkenya ndo ameposti au ndo alikua anahojiwa na PRESSTV mie nadhani tumshukuru mungu kwani hiki chombo kinajaribu kufichua wizi unaofanywa na wazungu na huwezi ona BBC,SKY NEWS,CCN, FOX kwani sera zao ni kutuibia so we must b thankfull kuliko kupondana.

Leo deni la Taifa ni 22TRL in 2012 from 6 trl in 2006..so madini yetu yanatunufaisha nini? ata km angekua Mtanzania ndo amepata fursa hiyo angeongea kitu kilekile...so tusiwe wanafiki wakati nchi yetu inabakia mashimo tu na utajiri wote unapotea

Point well presented!!
Lakini sikubaliani na issue ya call to the foreign companies to change/stop the exploitation.
I am on the opinion that our goverments should man up and act. The people must elect abled individuals and parties to power. Michezo ya kurudia ujinga kwa 50yrs haukubaliki! Kamwe!!

 

[Elizabeth Dominic]

you believe this is rubbish, because you have reached the maximum level of your reasoning, you cannot think beyond that, and you think you are at least cleaver.how many times you have seen tz discussing about kenyan poverty in other countries, what i was saying is that, though tz is poor, kenya is not on the safer side, the poverty level between tz and kenya is just the same, whether you agree to it or not, you are still so poor and should discuss how to eradicate your poverty first before stepping to discuss about tz's. you have no qualification to wash someones buttocks while yours is full of kenyan shit.

So the issue here is who talked about our problems? While you continue to come to terms with that, the Western Nations are ripping us right, left and center. Dude wake up! i'm sure haya malumbano ya Kenyans this Tanzanians that hayana tija ukizingatia ni masuala ambayo yako well within our control, what we can't control it seems is our Natural resources

 

[Kibanga Ampiga Mkoloni]

Tanzania, the third largest gold producer in Africa is among the poorest nations due to decades of Western multinational exploitation and political corruption.


Press TV in its program Africa Today has interviewed Agnes Gutau, CEO of London Africa Media Network, London about Tanzanian gold mining, multinational corporation exploitation, the poverty of the people and the impact of new players entering the region like Russia and China.

Also interviewed on the program is Robert Oulds from the Bruges Group. What follows is an approximate transcript of the interview.

Press TV: When you look at Tanzania, when you look at the amount they could be earning in gold and the amount that they're actually bringing in and the extent of which people are profiting from it, what do you see and what are you concerned about?

Gitau: I'm very concerned about the ignorance of the Tanzanian and of the African people in general. The resource curse is just evident throughout Africa and also worried that how come in the 21st century we can continue letting multinationals take advantage of our resources. Haven't we learnt over the years?

Tanzania, reporters say, is one of the poorest countries in the world yet they're the third largest producer of gold in Africa after Ghana and South Africa. Yesterday I was watching a documentary and I was shocked at the poverty levels.

You know, around the areas where companies like Anglo-Gold Ashanti and Barrick produce, the people have no food, no access to clean water, access to sanitation. It is unbelievable and I think it's a moral outcry and if you ask me I would say it is a human rights abuse.

It's unbelievable that this day and age even the consumers of these products can watch silently on the sidelines and let this continue to happen.

Press TV: Robert (Oulds) seems to say directly we've got to look at the African government, we've got to look at corruption. You talked more about big companies and their corporate social responsibility saying it's a moral outcry.

Isn't it fair to say that the African governments who are the custodians of this wealth below the ground want to point the finger at them - because in the end if they allow someone to come into the household and rob it and (the robbers) give them 10p or a couple of schillings... It's their fault they're letting down their people?

Gitau:

Corruption is two-ways so both the multi-nationals and the African governments obviously. But we must remember there is a lot of pressure on the African governments to sort of liberate the economies. The World Bank has called on African governments to come up with tax concessions to encourage foreign direct investment.​

What do we do? Obviously our government is worried that if they put up reforms, maybe these guys will go somewhere else.…

Press TV: But if you've been reelected there in Tanzania and your pleased and you're strong and you see yourself as an emerging power in East Africa and across the continent, and you see what you have below the ground, thousands and thousands of tons of gold and you know people want it all over the world and the Europeans the Canadians the British as well are coming in… You are in the driving seat, surely?

Gitau: I do agree with you, but transparency must come from everybody from the multi-national institutions, the World Bank, IMF and the companies.

Look at Tanzania… only two companies are obviously taking the stake i.e. Ashanti-Gold and Barrick, the Canadian one.… and the government does not have a stake in these companies. So, obviously it's a call on the government to make sure that as they are the custodian over the natural resources and they are accountable to the people, but also, my call is to make sure that me as a consumer, when I go out there to buy a product I must find…

Press TV: So you're saying that Africans or Europeans or whatever, when they're looking to buy gold they must look to see that it's been mined ethically and that there's a process… I mean, we have the Kimberley process for diamonds - there must be a process when it comes to the mining of gold, which will ensure that if you buy it, something is going back to the people who live on the land indigenously.

Gitau: Yes. The consumer must be able to make that judgment and I think it's not untoward to call for that. But also Africans ourselves, we need to just wake up, we have to hold our governments accountable and how do we do it? In the ballot boxes.

And now with the growth of technology, Africans are informed. Programs like these ones I guess they can log on and say Oh is this exactly what is happening? Mining is like 2.5 billion worth of gold revenues in Tanzania and only 28 million goes to the government - obviously there is a question mark…The public must ask where is this money going?

How come the people living next to Gator Mines, they have no food to feed their country. You see those children at Oxfam this is the sight I was seeing next to Gator Mines.

It's unbelievable. And I think the days have gone when Africa was a deaf continent - we have access to information and I think it's a challenge. We need to hold our governments accountable, but also the wider global community, before you go there and invest in gold you must really ensure that it's ethically mined and that there is no blood and human rights abuse associated with that.

Press TV: We're talking about Western multinational companies and those organizations that like to invest, but are concerned let's say invest in Eurobonds … or in stock and shares on Wall Street or here in the City of London and they see a very poor return on their investment… they look to Africa.

But Africans are being told, hmm, we need to watch out for these people, look at what they’ve done in their colonial past. Would they be better off then looking east to China or is China just as rapacious do you think?

Gitau: Well, Africa is ripe for investment. It's the greatest destination for investment I must argue that.

Press TV: Why do you say that?

Gitau: We have much untapped wealth in various industries, the tourism sector, the infrastructure for example.

Multinationals should not get scared. As long as the corporate social responsibility is open and clear and that the world also benefits - the local communities, so they shouldn't be scared.

Press TV: What should as a minimum a mining company do? Imagine it goes to some part a very nice fertile part of Tanzania, the government is concerned of the flora and fauna there, but say Rio Tinto or any of the companies says there's so much we can do. Yes we will spoil the land for a number of years; however, we'll put so much back in.

Should the minimum cost be a hospital, a school, roads, what should it be?

Gitau: As much as they pay their taxes and these ridiculous concession are not there.

We are not asking them to come in and feed us, no. Africans are ready to work. They must obviously utilize the local content - not just have Tanzanians working as the guards or the cleaners or the sweepers, but ensure training and development from the mining companies to achieve high level for Tanzanians to access employment.

There is a UN report that says the mining companies have no impact on local employment at all. They bring expats from their country.

Now, Russia, Brazil, there is competition for Africa. And what I think is we should align our priorities and our strategies to ensure that we get a better bargain and ensure that when everybody comes we ensure we get what is better for us, OK?

We used to focus only the West, but now we have other players and whoever has the best bargain for Africa is the person we go with.

But you know, it's a challenge for Africa. We can watch multinationals and also our fellow politicians taking so much of our resources - all we do is watch and clap after them and vote them year in and year out - it's unbelievable.

Press TV: Closing thoughts - your final recommendations to President Kikwete of Tanzania, what would you say about this, about mining about gold?

Gitau:

Mining laws in Tanzania should be amended to ensure that the local communities benefit from the resources.​

The second thing, there should be no contracts issued and if there are the public must know with clarity what they involve and also the companies mining in Tanzania must make public declaration of how much they make and how much they pay back to the government.

It's up to the people, the Tanzanian people to hold their government accountable. And I think we'll start to enjoy our god-given natural resources.

Press TV: What if they say, well, across the border in Kenya, Uganda or any of these countries nearby, they're not being as strict, you know, they say hey come in, we want you - if they don’t want you in Tanzania we'll take you?

Gitau: That's why we need to have strong regional institutions Eastern African Community (EAC), all of those institutions needs, we need to be each other’s brother's keeper - we need to watch our brother and ensure that we are benefiting.


Comments (4)
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Unknown
Jun 16, 2012 9:10 AM
Multinational companies, who are stock-exchange listed, pay their taxes, utilize local procurement and still it is not enough. Why, you ask? Because inherently, the money is being used, stifled and pilfered by the many people in power who are on the receiving side. It is not used to benefit their communities, it is used to benefit themselves and their families. I dare you to have a close look at your own government and governance structures, and assess how effective they are. Then come back and speak about the mining companies who employ thousands.....take responsibility for your failed state,people!
Like 1 | Dislike 0 | Reply
Symonin reply to Unknown
6/16/2012 9:48:54 AM
Typical of the abuser to blame the victimThe abusive husband, will never empower the abused wife, because he is the dependent one, though he tries his best to convince her of the reverse case.Endless appeals for reform and compassion are futile. The only course of relief for the wife is to empower herself enough to terminate the abusive relationship.The abusive husband, of course, will do all in his power to arrest this. But this is the only action that can possibly set the her free.As long as the abused wife continues to follow the same futile strategy of appeal, after appeal, after appeal, her continued abuse and wretchedness is guaranteed.
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roslan bayu
Jun 16, 2012 9:3 AM
NATIONALIZED,PERIOD.
Like 3 | Dislike 0 | Reply

Tanzanian
Jun 15, 2012 9:26 PM
Thats what we call democracy.
Like 4 | Dislike 0 | Reply

 

[MAMMAMIA]

Nimeingia humu nikitarajia kuona tunajadili hoja na kutoa uchambuzi na mapendekezo ya suluhisho, nilichoambulia ni kuendelea kukandiana baina ya [Wa]Tanzania na [Wa]Kenya. Sipingi uwepo wa Utani wa jadi baina ya [wa] wa nchi hizi mbili, lakini linapokuja suala la mmoja kusifia maendeleo ya yake, mwengine ataponda bila sababu. Na atapotokea mwengine kukosoa yanayotendeka nchi ya mwenzake, wahusika wanakuja juu na kupoteza uwezo wao wa kutafakari na kuisha kutokwa na mapovu. Nimeyaona haya kwenye slums za Kenya, ujenzi wa Super Highway ya Thika, Mradi wa Subway Kenya...humu mote ama tumelinganisha na slums za Tanzania, kama vile kusema kuwa "slums zetu ni bora kuliko zenu", kama vile tunajivunia umasikini, au kuponda yale maendeleo madogo waliyofikia wenzetu wakati sisi kwetu hatuna hata robo ya hicho.

Kuhusu mada hii, nashangaa kuona Watanzania tunatokwa na mapovu na kufumbia macho ukweli kwa sababu tu aliyesema haya ni Mkenya. Masikini hata viongozi wetu wanapinga, wakiwaambukiza wananchi wao kuwa tusisaini kila kitu kwenye mkataba wa Afrika ya Mashariki kwa sababu "Wakenya wana njama za kutuibia ardhi yetu na ajira zetu", lakini viongozi hao hao wanauza ardhi kwa mataifa mengine na makampuni yanayokuja "kuwekeza" yanakuja na wafanyakazi wao hata wa kukata bustani. Mtanzania akienda Kenya anaonekana Mdowezi, Mkenya akija Tanzania anaonekana Mlowezi lakini Kaburu akiingia Kenya au Tanzania anaonekana Mkombozi. Huu ni utumwa wa kujituma.

Watanzania, Wakenya....wana Afrika Mashariki wenzangu, lini tutakuwa "Great Thinkers" wa ukweli na kuanza kujadili na kutafuta suluhisho kwa yale yanayotuumiza kwa pamoja badala ya kuonana maadui lakini wageni wakaonekana manabii na wakombozi wetu?

 

[bzar]

Nimeingia humu nikitarajia kuona tunajadili hoja na kutoa uchambuzi na mapendekezo ya suluhisho, nilichoambulia ni kuendelea kukandiana baina ya [Wa]Tanzania na [Wa]Kenya. Sipingi uwepo wa Utani wa jadi baina ya [wa] wa nchi hizi mbili, lakini linapokuja suala la mmoja kusifia maendeleo ya yake, mwengine ataponda bila sababu. Na atapotokea mwengine kukosoa yanayotendeka nchi ya mwenzake, wahusika wanakuja juu na kupoteza uwezo wao wa kutafakari na kuisha kutokwa na mapovu. Nimeyaona haya kwenye slums za Kenya, ujenzi wa Super Highway ya Thika, Mradi wa Subway Kenya...humu mote ama tumelinganisha na slums za Tanzania, kama vile kusema kuwa "slums zetu ni bora kuliko zenu", kama vile tunajivunia umasikini, au kuponda yale maendeleo madogo waliyofikia wenzetu wakati sisi kwetu hatuna hata robo ya hicho.

Kuhusu mada hii, nashangaa kuona Watanzania tunatokwa na mapovu na kufumbia macho ukweli kwa sababu tu aliyesema haya ni Mkenya. Masikini hata viongozi wetu wanapinga, wakiwaambukiza wananchi wao kuwa tusisaini kila kitu kwenye mkataba wa Afrika ya Mashariki kwa sababu "Wakenya wana njama za kutuibia ardhi yetu na ajira zetu", lakini viongozi hao hao wanauza ardhi kwa mataifa mengine na makampuni yanayokuja "kuwekeza" yanakuja na wafanyakazi wao hata wa kukata bustani. Mtanzania akienda Kenya anaonekana Mdowezi, Mkenya akija Tanzania anaonekana Mlowezi lakini Kaburu akiingia Kenya au Tanzania anaonekana Mkombozi. Huu ni utumwa wa kujituma.

Watanzania, Wakenya....wana Afrika Mashariki wenzangu, lini tutakuwa "Great Thinkers" wa ukweli na kuanza kujadili na kutafuta suluhisho kwa yale yanayotuumiza kwa pamoja badala ya kuonana maadui lakini wageni wakaonekana manabii na wakombozi wetu?

well said.wise words.

 

[Kongosho]

natamani kusema, ngoja nipite kwanza.

 

[chash]

This response typifies what indeed defines watanzania - a people without imaginative redemptive energy that seem perpetually held hostage in their collectivized past which precluded personal initiative and responsibility.

You will not fix your leaking roof because your neighbour lives in a mud house!! A ''sisi'' na ''wao'' mentality that explained hope and fear. Nini mbaya na huyu jamaa - mbona unashindwa ku-debate hili jambo la Western exploitation of the rich Mining Sector in Tanzania bila injecting Kenya and Kenyans into it? There is no mention anyway that Western Conglomerates AND KENYA are raping tanzanian Migodi. Bana wee, waacha ku-show ujinga wako.

Ati ''sisi hatumtaki nyie'', you Kenyans are gluttonous of our ''wealth'', you will steal our lands, you will marginalize our people - well, dammit, get off your backsides and do something about it. Farm your so-called lands that lie fallow in millions of acres and feed Africa and get rich. Get your kids to school and really educate them with more than just ujamaa BS. Open technical colleges and polytechnics and get your youth into gainful competitive employment. Invest in your youth.

STOP your endless WHINNING , and more important, stop these useless and tired vijigambo vienu about imaginative utajiri wenu, bana!! The Eastern Africa world moves on fast and relentless as wtz sit on their hands grumbling about Kenyans-this-Kenyans-that, joo!!

Sitaki kuzungumzia nani jinga au nani mwerevu sababu naamini kama moja jinga yote jinga na kama moja mwerevu yote mierevu. Ila swali au mshangao wangu. Kwanini kenya uonekana kuwa na wasomi zaidi, wana kilimo cha kisasa zaidi, wana uchumi mkubwa zaidi, wawekezaji wengi zaidi alafu wanashindwa kujilisha au kuzalisha chakula cha kujitosheleza.
What is the problem? Kila leo njaa, mara Tanzania mahindi yote, sukari, mchele zinahamishiwa Kenya yet haziwatoshi wa Kenya na haziishi Tanzania. Hiki ni kizungumkuti jameni!