JAFO URGES MINING COMPANIES TO PROTECT ENVIRONMENT

Minister of State, Vice President's Office, Union and Environment - Selemani Jafo (right) receives a gift from GGML's Senior Manager for Sustainability, Gilbert Mworia, after visiting the company's stand at this year’s Geita Mining & Technology Exhibition.

Minister of State in the Office of the Vice President for Labour and Environment, Hon. Selemani Jafo (left) listens to GGML's Senior Manager for Sustainability, Mr. Gilbert Mworia, about the company at the 6th Geita Mining and Technology Exhibition as he visits GGML's stand where they are this year's main sponsor.

Selemani Jafo, the Minister of State and Vice President for Labour and Environment, has directed all mining companies in the country to comply with environmental procedures and laws to help Tanzania and the world deal with the climate change crisis.

He has instructed the companies to learn how Geita Gold Mining Limited (GGML) implements the environmental policy as it is the exemplary mining company that complies with the Environmental Protection Act.

Jafo urged this today while speaking to journalists after planting trees and visiting the stalls of the sixth Mining Technology Exhibition that is ongoing at the Bombambili-EPZ field in Geita. He said in his capacity as Minister of State Office, Vice President Union and Environment, he carefully monitors the activities of mining companies to protect the environment, especially considering that gold production also causes the presence of metals dangerous to the environment. "But of all the companies that are committed to preserving the environment, GGML is the one, so I want to encourage you to continue with the same spirit to ensure that the environment is taken care of.

"As a consequence of developing the economy through minerals (extraction), but we don't take care of the environment, we will have serious consequences... remember that climate change is a global phenomenom". No nation is safe from climate change, temperatures are rising every day," Jafo said, adding;

"Let's continue to grow the economy but protect the environment. GGML remains a key stakeholder and we the government need stakeholders like you to work together to ensure that the country moves forward," he said.

Earlier, the Nyang'wale District Commissioner, Grace Kingalame, who was welcomed by the Geita District Commissioner, Martin Shigela, said the region had planned to plant 1500 trees this year. He said that since the tree planting campaign started, the region has been leading the way and has managed to plant more than one million trees.

Minister of Mines, Anthony Mabunde said he would monitor the sector to ensure that all mining activities comply with the Geita's environmental protection policies.

In addition, GGML's Environmental Manager, Mhando Yusuph, said that the mine has an environmental policy that covers three main areas. These are prevention of pollution, compliance with environmental legislation and sustainable improvement of the environment.

"Therefore, everything that is done at the mine is based on environmental protection. We consider environmental management within the mine for all mining activities and ensure that we do not pollute water sources such as rivers and ponds within the mine.

"To ensure that this policy is followed, we regularly test the water outside and inside the mine (footprint). But remember that mining involves the removal of tree resources, so when an area is no longer used, we plant trees" says Yusuph.