By Alfred Zacharia
In a move to improve safety to a small-scale mining sub-sector, the government through the Ministry of Minerals and the Mining Commission has organized an awareness program, equipping skills to staff on how to change the mindsets of the small miners to use concretes on mining cliffs, parks, and open spaces instead of logs.
Speaking on July 26, 2024 at a capacity building training in Dodoma, Mr. Ephraim Mushi, Environment Manager of the Mining Commission said on behalf of the Acting Executive Secretary of the Mining Commission that the concretes will lessen repeated mining incidents including landslides and rockfalls that claimed lives of the miners while others become permanently injured.
"Small miners are currently using logs on the rock walls and cliffs, however, the method is not safe and sustainable for the miners as the logs are rotting to cause accidents in the mines," said Mushi.
"Our Mineral inspection and environmental department will definitely disseminate this knowledge to the small-scale miners, supporting them to utilize concretes for their protection so that even if rockfalls or mine landslide incidents occur, miners will be safe. The system is productive for improving mineral production and reduce deaths and disabilities to the miners while increasing government revenues," Mushi said.
Senior geologist Fabian Mshai expressed his gratitude to the trainers on behalf of the participants, saying the training has created more capacity, enthusiasm and new strength for the mine and environmental inspectors in carrying out their duties.
For the mining sector to prosper, he said, safety should be guaranteed to the practitioners with no accidents while protecting the environments for the benefit of the existing and future generation.
"This education will also reduce regular safety-checks to small miners because the new system may help miners avoid accidents in their operations,” he noted.
The five-day training started on Monday July 22 to July 26, 2024 with various presentations by trainers including Eng. Gervas Wiliam from the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), Eng. Selemani Msangi from HETAMIS Company, Eng. Japhet Mmary from Shanta Mining Co. Ltd., Fikiri Juma from Bulyanhulu Gold Mine and Fey Kidee from Kidee Mining (T) Ltd.
