FEMATA Achievements

There are a number of discernible FEMATA achievements, including Federation’s visibility in the country. The first ever 2019 mining sector congregation organized by FEMATA to engage the government, pioneered current ASM-government relationship. FEMATA members are now more coherent in their ASM fraternity than before and the government has tended to recognize their presence, functions and significance. The significant role of ASM contribution to the economy is not ignorable anymore. ASM production is currently at 45% contribution of revenues from Tanzania mining activities.

Government policy response to FEMATA proposals, including policy dialogue, establishment of official minerals markets, issuance of mining license to allocate ASMs blocks that are considered productively favorable, collectively, rationalize existence of FEMATA in the context of relationship with government. FEMATA is pleased to see Tanzania ASMs seal business partnerships contracts in various forms, whether joint ventures or business cooperation agreements, with foreigners from China, Germany, Turkey and Egypt among others.

As at the time of FEMATA founding ASM manifestation was much more discernible in the Lake zone, Tanga and Chunya areas than other parts of the country, the majority of FEMATA founding members came from early ASM areas. The Mining Act 1979 encouraged ASM mining interventions, which in the main created the movement, noting the economic hardship conditions Tanzanians muddled through then, especially after the collapse of the East Africa Community (EAC) and the impact of fighting Idd Amin regime in Uganda. Youth from different rural and urban parts of Tanzania flocked in the then historically known as existing goldmine fields seeking alternative (expectation) way of earning living and make a difference.