DR. BITEKO: GOV'T TO CONTINUE COOPERATION WITH GGML

AngloGold Ashanti's Vice President (Sustainability) for Ghana and Tanzania, Simon Shayo, briefS the Deputy Minister and Minister for Energy, Dr Doto Biteko, during a visit to the GGML pavilion, when he presided over the official opening of the sixth Geita Mining & Technology Exhibition, which began on 20 September 2023.

 GGML Managing Director, Terry Strong, speaks at the official opening ceremony of the sixth Geita Mining & Technology Exhibition, of which GGML is this year's main sponsor.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Dr Doto Biteko, has assured Geita Gold Mining Limited (GGML) that the government will continue to work closely with the company to ensure that the mining sector grows and Tanzanians benefit from the resources that God has blessed the nation with.

Dr Biteko made the statement on 23 September 2023 when he visited the GGML pavilion at the sixth Geita Mining & Technology Exhibition and also during his keynote address at the opening of the exhibition held at the Geita EPZ premises in Bombambili, Geita..

He also urged the company's management to give the new Minister of Minerals, Anthony Mavunde, enough cooperation to achieve the goals he has set, especially considering that GGML is the largest gold mine in the country.

Earlier, during a visit to the GGML pavilion, Deputy Prime Minister Dr Biteko said the company has become a great partner to the government, but it's also reassuring that GGML is an active partner through its corporate social responsibility programme. "Even the Geita Regional Commissioner (Martin Shigela) has openly praised your involvement as the main sponsor of this exhibition, so we are proud of you for these activities," he said.

He added that the sector has a new minister, but now Anthony Mavunde, known by many for his mild-mannered approach, is showing his steely demeanour, so he should be given cooperation. "Give him cooperation so that we can make this sector grow better, because GGML mine is the example for all mines in the country, so if we don't do well, Geita and other mines will underperform, the whole sector will benefit if Geita mine does well. I congratulate you very much for what you have done in our community," said Dr Biteko.

Speaking at the opening of the exhibition, GGML Managing Director Terry Strong also thanked President Samia Suluhu Hassan for his efforts to improve the investor friendly environment in the country. Strong said that President Samia's efforts to closely monitor and address the challenges facing the private sector and the mining sector have raised the hopes of many stakeholders in these sectors in the country. "GGML can be a role model because of this new spirit, having received sufficient cooperation from the government, particularly in the implementation of the new mining law," he said.

He said the law had provided a guide for the management of the mining sector in terms of taxation, royalty payments and the application of corporate social responsibility, while also emphasising local content. "We are relieved to say that over the past five years, GGML has collaborated extensively with the office of the Geita Regional Commissioner by providing more than Sh46 billion through the Social Responsibility Fund (CSR). These funds have contributed to the implementation of several community projects, including the construction of a modern market and health centres, including educational infrastructure to meet local needs," he said.

He also said that this year GGML as the main sponsor of the exhibition, the company feels comforted to see that it is making progress and becoming a major centre for business and investment, especially after GGML used the improvement of the Export Production Zone Authority (EPZA) area with a size of 200 acres.