Tanzania's Minister for Minerals Anthony Peter Mavunde has called on African countries to abandon uncoordinated approaches and work together on developing mineral resources to drive industrialisation, create jobs and accelerate economic growth. Mavunde made the remarks during a ministerial panel discussion involving Tanzania, Nigeria and Liberia at the Mining in Motion conference in Accra, Ghana, held from October 19 to 21, 2026, under the theme "From Vision to Delivery: Making the African Mining Vision Work for Member States."
Mavunde highlighted that Africa holds more than 32 per cent of the world's known critical mineral resources, yet much of this wealth is exported without sufficient value addition, depriving African countries of opportunities to build industries, create employment and increase government revenues. He urged African nations to set aside their differences and implement joint strategies for developing the mining sector.
Tanzania has taken steps to strengthen its mineral sector through legal reforms introduced in 2017 that improved resource management and increased government participation, Mavunde said. The country has also restricted the export of raw minerals to encourage domestic value addition. Under President Samia Suluhu Hassan's leadership, Tanzania now operates more than eight gold refineries and over 16 processing and refining plants for base metals, according to Mavunde.
The mining sector contributes 10.3 per cent of Tanzania's Gross Domestic Product, with small-scale miners accounting for approximately 40 per cent of total mineral production. Mavunde identified Tanzania, Madagascar and Mozambique as countries with opportunities to collaborate on developing graphite resources, mineral processing and harmonising policies, saying such cooperation could establish an integrated value chain that delivers greater economic benefits to citizens.
For Tanzanian savers, borrowers, business owners and investors, coordinated regional mineral development and value addition could increase government revenues and create employment opportunities linked to expanded processing and refining industries.