North Mara Gold Mine has set side 4.6 bn/- more for the implementation of new community development projects under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme for the Tarime District Council.

The mine’s General Manager, Apolinary Lyambiko, disclosed this when speaking to reporters here on Friday. 

The new projects will include expansion of Nyangoto clean and safe drinking water project to reach other several villages. 

“We have allocated 4.6bn/- more for new projects. Expansion of the water scheme will be one of the planned projects,” he said.

North Mara is one of the country’s largest gold mines operated by Barrick in partnership with the government of Tanzania through Twiga Minerals.

Currently, the mine is also implementing 101 development projects for the Tarime District Council at a cost of over nine billion shillings under its CSR programme, according to Lyambiko.

The mine’s CSR programme prioritizes areas such as education, water, health and business development. 

Lyambiko said mine has multiple benefits to the local communities and, hence it should be protected by making from intruders and other illegal acts.

Apart from paying huge money in tax to the government, North Mara Gold Mine has also created jobs and business opportunities to the local population.

“Acts of intrusion into the mine are illegal. This mine has many benefits; it creates jobs and business opportunities to the contractors,” Lyambiko pointed out.

The number of local contractors doing business with the giant mine has increased sharpy in recent years, thanks to the local content policy crafted by the government of Tanzania to ensure that locals reap the benefits investments.

At least 96 percent of  the mine’s workers are Tanzanians, the majority  from areas surrounding the mine.