Artisanal and small-scale mining in Tanzania and health implications: A policy perspective

The mineral sector, especially its small-scale subsector, has become significant in the emerging economies of the Global South. Tanzania is the focus of this policy exposition paper because, aside from Ghana and South Africa, Tanzania is ranked 4th in Africa in terms of its mineral deposits and smal...

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Main Authors: Mwemezi J. Rwiza, Erasto Focus, Jonas Bayuo, Joseph Modest Kimaro, Matthias Kleinke, Theresia J. Lyasenga, Jerry T. Mosses, Janeth Marwa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2023-04-01
Series:Heliyon
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023018236
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author Mwemezi J. Rwiza
Erasto Focus
Jonas Bayuo
Joseph Modest Kimaro
Matthias Kleinke
Theresia J. Lyasenga
Jerry T. Mosses
Janeth Marwa
author_facet Mwemezi J. Rwiza
Erasto Focus
Jonas Bayuo
Joseph Modest Kimaro
Matthias Kleinke
Theresia J. Lyasenga
Jerry T. Mosses
Janeth Marwa
author_sort Mwemezi J. Rwiza
collection DOAJ
description The mineral sector, especially its small-scale subsector, has become significant in the emerging economies of the Global South. Tanzania is the focus of this policy exposition paper because, aside from Ghana and South Africa, Tanzania is ranked 4th in Africa in terms of its mineral deposits and small-scale mining activities. The focus is also on artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) because ASM operations have significantly increased in recent times across this mineral-rich country of East Africa. This is done against a negative backdrop-labelling of ASM as unsustainable, environmentally unfriendly, inefficient, and illegal. Tanzania has made some progress to respond to some of the challenges in the mining sector to improve the micro and macroeconomics of the country. Some areas remain challenging including the lack of proper environmental health education for the ASM miners; the lack of clear national-level policies to guide health-related matters in the ASM subsector, and the small capital investment of the ASM subsector to support healthy mining practices. The details related to the persistence of these challenges are not well known, particularly those that pertain to policymaking. This article attempts to evaluate the policy environment of the ASM subsector in Tanzania and propose appropriate actions for the future of mineral resource policymaking in Tanzania.
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spelling doaj.art-2ca76a06743a4edbb94b8db032d43db02023-04-29T14:50:23ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402023-04-0194e14616Artisanal and small-scale mining in Tanzania and health implications: A policy perspectiveMwemezi J. Rwiza0Erasto Focus1Jonas Bayuo2Joseph Modest Kimaro3Matthias Kleinke4Theresia J. Lyasenga5Jerry T. Mosses6Janeth Marwa7The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), P.O. BOX 447, Arusha, Tanzania; Corresponding author.The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), P.O. BOX 447, Arusha, Tanzania; Mwalimu Nyerere University of Agriculture and Technology (MJNUAT), P.O. BOX 976, Mara, TanzaniaThe Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), P.O. BOX 447, Arusha, Tanzania; C. K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences (CKT-UTAS), School of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education (SoSMTE), Department of Science Education, Postal Box 24, Navrongo, GhanaSouthampton Business School, University of Southampton, S017 1BJ, United KingdomRhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, Campus Kleve, Marie-Curie-Straße 1, D-47533 Kleve, GermanyUniversity of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Chemistry Department, P.O. Box 35091, Dar es Salaam, TanzaniaArdhi University (ARU), School of Spatial Planning and Social Sciences, Department of Economics and Social Studies, P.O. Box 35176, Dar es Salaam, TanzaniaThe Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), P.O. BOX 447, Arusha, TanzaniaThe mineral sector, especially its small-scale subsector, has become significant in the emerging economies of the Global South. Tanzania is the focus of this policy exposition paper because, aside from Ghana and South Africa, Tanzania is ranked 4th in Africa in terms of its mineral deposits and small-scale mining activities. The focus is also on artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) because ASM operations have significantly increased in recent times across this mineral-rich country of East Africa. This is done against a negative backdrop-labelling of ASM as unsustainable, environmentally unfriendly, inefficient, and illegal. Tanzania has made some progress to respond to some of the challenges in the mining sector to improve the micro and macroeconomics of the country. Some areas remain challenging including the lack of proper environmental health education for the ASM miners; the lack of clear national-level policies to guide health-related matters in the ASM subsector, and the small capital investment of the ASM subsector to support healthy mining practices. The details related to the persistence of these challenges are not well known, particularly those that pertain to policymaking. This article attempts to evaluate the policy environment of the ASM subsector in Tanzania and propose appropriate actions for the future of mineral resource policymaking in Tanzania.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023018236MiningEnvironmentArtisanalTrace elementsTanzania
spellingShingle Mwemezi J. Rwiza
Erasto Focus
Jonas Bayuo
Joseph Modest Kimaro
Matthias Kleinke
Theresia J. Lyasenga
Jerry T. Mosses
Janeth Marwa
Artisanal and small-scale mining in Tanzania and health implications: A policy perspective
Heliyon
Mining
Environment
Artisanal
Trace elements
Tanzania
title Artisanal and small-scale mining in Tanzania and health implications: A policy perspective
title_full Artisanal and small-scale mining in Tanzania and health implications: A policy perspective
title_fullStr Artisanal and small-scale mining in Tanzania and health implications: A policy perspective
title_full_unstemmed Artisanal and small-scale mining in Tanzania and health implications: A policy perspective
title_short Artisanal and small-scale mining in Tanzania and health implications: A policy perspective
title_sort artisanal and small scale mining in tanzania and health implications a policy perspective
topic Mining
Environment
Artisanal
Trace elements
Tanzania
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023018236
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