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This study assesses the response of large scale-mining companies to the system of
governance for improved local livelihoods in Tanzania. Specifically, the study analysed
the policy enabling environment of the mining sector in Tanzania, examined compliance
of large-scale mining companies with regulatory framework, explored community
perception on mining companies’ practices towards enhancing environmental
sustainability and assessed the contribution of mining companies to the local livelihoods
in Kahama District. The study employed both the cross-sectional and case study designs
in which three mining village communities namely Mwendakulima, Mwime and
Chapulwa were involved. The sample size for the study was 215 respondents, and
systematic review of literature was used to collect information related to policies and
legislation from Tanzania and best practices elsewhere. Additionally, household and key
informant interviews with technical personnel from government and mining company
officials were contacted to determine the extent to which communities’ understood issues
of regulatory framework in relation to sustainable mining practices for improved local
livelihoods. A five-point Likert scale with alternative answers from strongly disagree to
strongly agree attitudes with statements implying disliking and liking the system of
governance to the mode of mining operations was used as part from a questionnaire
which was used for the household survey in this study. Data on policy review were
analysed using content analysis from sources of information captured in various
documents to portray the policy enabling environment of the mining sector in Tanzania.
The whole mining operations in relation to attributes of compliance, sustainable
environmental practices and livelihoods from community perspectives were handled by
adopting exploratory factor analysis (EFA) using the Statistical Package for Social
Sciences (SPSS) software to explore inter-relationships with a reflection in the national
regulatory framework. The study findings show that Tanzania has taken serious measures
towards exploiting opportunities by creating a policy enabling environment. However, the
measures have not that much achieved the expected results to its desired level due to the
persistence of targeted challenges in the sector. The persisting challenges are reflected in
the form of lack of expected benefits and failure to develop policy options for making the
investment environment supportive for all actors in the sector, hence failure to use mineral
wealth sustainably for growth and poverty reduction for the benefit of all. In terms of
compliance for sustainable mining practices, results show that consultation for views on
issues, publication of anticipated effects and benefits in communities were positively
attained by the mining company. However, it was also evident that the mining companies’
operations largely affected the qualities of water, soil and air within operation areas. There
was also less compliance with better practice on issues of noise reduction and
employment of a work force from the local communities. While the community perceived
a positive response on social accountability measures, the community response showed
less compliance regarding the degree of achievement in practice. Additionally, the
practices towards the restoration of degraded land were also negatively explained.
Consequently, this created negative attitude in the community on informed ultimate goal
for enhanced sustainability. While in some instances these challenges were attributed to
the mining company’s less compliance practices to the system of governance, in some
cases they were associated with government’s inability to effectively implement, monitor
and enforce the existing regulatory framework. The study concludes that key aspects for
assured sustainability in areas with large mining operations should be determined in
legally responsible and socially equitable ways for secured community livelihoods
resources in areas affected by mining operations even after mine closure. Consequently,
the study calls for improvement of large-scale mining companies’ compliance with respect
to policy, legal and regulatory frameworks particularly where policy gaps have resulted
into poor practices in terms of accommodating not only the country’s interests but, also
communities’ in areas with large-scale mining operations. Therefore, the critical
contribution of this study is the ability to add on to the existing literature knowledge with
regard to the state of compliance of large-mining companies to the regulatory framework
for improved local livelihoods on the basis of local community perspectives in the
Tanzania’s mining sector using Buzwagi gold mine as a case study. This is especially
important towards realization of the efforts underway by the fifth phase government of
Tanzania (2015-2025) which are aimed at increasing the contribution of the sector to the
country. |
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