Tanzania valuers assess 350+ properties as North Mara land acquisition advances
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Government valuers have assessed more than 350 residents' properties in Matongo and Nyangoto villages in Tarime District as Tanzania moves to acquire about 419 acres for a new tailings storage facility at the North Mara gold mine.
A government valuation exercise is under way in Matongo and Nyangoto villages in Matongo Ward, Tarime District, Mara Region, as a key step towards acquiring land for a new tailings storage facility at the North Mara gold mine and paying compensation to affected residents.
A Senior Valuer from the Office of the Chief Valuer at the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development, Mr. Mollel, said the exercise was being conducted in close cooperation with local leaders and residents. "The valuation exercise is proceeding well and we are committed to ensuring that every citizen's property within the affected area is identified, measured and valued in accordance with established procedures and the property's actual value," he said during the exercise in the two villages.
More than 350 residents have already had their properties and other assets assessed as of September 15, against a 60-day completion target. Tarime District Commissioner Major Edward Gowele said the response from residents had been significant and satisfactory, and that the government, working with North Mara mine, held meetings to inform and sensitise residents about the project and the valuation process before work began.
About 419 acres are required for the new facility. Authorities said the process involves stakeholders at different levels of administration, including human rights advocates and the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB), to promote fairness and transparency in the assessment.
The exercise is linked to the proposed construction of a new tailings storage facility, a structure designed to safely contain the material left over after minerals have been extracted. Barrick, which operates North Mara in partnership with the Government of Tanzania through Twiga Minerals, says technical studies have extended the mine's operational life from 2030 to 2041.
Barrick company relations manager Francis Uhadi said the company was prepared to proceed with the process promptly while respecting the rights and interests of residents affected by the project. He said the company has invested 4.79 billion US dollars in Tanzania's economy since the partnership began, that more than 90 percent of production-related goods are sourced from local suppliers, and that Tanzanians account for 96 percent of its workforce.
For residents of Matongo and Nyangoto, the process concerns homes, farms, livelihoods and property accumulated over years. The outcome of the valuation will determine how the land required for the facility is acquired and compensated.