LEADING presidential candidate Samia Suluhu Hassan has hailed the contribution of artisanal miners to Tanzania’s economy, saying their efforts have become a vital pillar in the growth of the mining sector, contributing nearly 40 percent of the industry’s total revenue.

Addressing a campaign rally in Maganzo, Shinyanga Region today October 11, Samia said since she assumed office, her government has strengthened support for small-scale miners by increasing the number of licences from 332 to 1,766, enabling thousands of local miners to work legally and benefit directly from mineral wealth.
“The artisanal mining sector is not just about individual livelihoods, it is a cornerstone of our national economy,” she said, pledging continued investment in the sector, including better access to financing, modern equipment, and safer working conditions.
She added that under the next CCM government, more roads will be constructed to open up mining zones and boost trade in the region. Specialist health services will also be introduced in Kishapu District to ensure communities benefit from closer healthcare access.
While in Shinyanga Municipality, Samia reaffirmed that the ruling party’s pledge is to serve all Tanzanians and uphold human dignity while promising more development projects in Shinyanga and across the country if re-elected.

According to her, the government’s priority is to uplift the well-being of citizens without discrimination based on religion, tribe, race or ideology.
“Our promise is to serve you. We will continue working with you to uplift the dignity of every Tanzanian without discrimination. That’s why we invest significant resources in local authorities to strengthen services that enhance people’s lives,” she said
Samia vowed to invest heavily in all development sectors including agriculture, trade and rural infrastructure, pledging massive construction of roads, bridges and processing factories to stimulate economic development and improve the delivery of social services.
She urged residents of Shinyanga to turn out in large numbers on October 29 and vote for the ruling CCM to sustain the ongoing development momentum.
Shinyanga parliamentary aspirant Patrobas Katambi thanked Samia for the region’s major transformation in education, water, and agriculture. 
He said five new secondary schools and six primary schools have been built, while a 195bn/- water project has raised access to clean water to 93 percent of residents.
Women traders have also felt the impact of Samia’s reforms. Havijawa Omary, Chairperson of the Tanzania Food Vendors Association, said the introduction of affordable cooking gas had saved  food vendors from years of relying on smoky, expensive fuels. “We also suffered from harsh and exploitative loans, but today government-led credit initiatives have truly rescued us,” she said.
Agriculture, another key pillar of Shinyanga’s economy, has seen remarkable progress. 
Nzega parliamentary aspirant Hussein Bashe said smallholder farmers have earned 6.6bn/- from cowpeas and 24bn/- from lentils, crops once viewed merely as subsistence food. Cotton production has also surged, from 10,000 tonnes in previous years to 34,000 tonnes this year, following a 20bn/- subsidy to boost the crop’s value chain.
Bashe added that when she entered office in 2022, Tanzania had only 13 irrigation projects, but the number has now expanded to 700 nationwide, with 390 new hectares set for irrigation development in the current financial year.