North Mara Gold Mine
The North Mara Gold Mine has spent over 86m/- on clean and safe water for neighbouring local communities over the past four months, the company said in its latest report.
“This is a short time project meant to solve shortage of water problems in the surrounding villages”, said part of the report which was recently submitted to the Mara
Regional Consultative Committee (RCC).The project benefits hundreds of women residing at Nyangoto and Kewanja villages, according to the report. The mine uses a truck to supply 90,000 litres of clean and safe water to hundreds of villagers free of charge every day. “This project started in August last year had consumed 86,400,000/- by December.
This project is also supporting funeral events at Kerende and Matongo villages”, the report said. The mine has also drilled 16 boreholes in a bid to improve water supply in the neghbouring villages in the recent months. “The target is to drill six boreholes in every village and this is three years programme that will cost over 3bn/-”, the report whose copy was made available to the ‘Daily News’ on Sunday said.
These are part of the efforts made by the Mine’s General Manager, Mr Basie Maree, in attempt to find a lasting solution on perennial conflicts between the mine and local communities. “I would like to see women and children with access to drinking water every day and children going to school so that they can have an opportunity to improve their lives”, Mr Maree has worked at the mine for less than a year and he is described by local leaders and ordinary people as the first General Manager who has shown commitment to create good relationship between them and the mine.
His management has witnessed decreasing of frequent conflicts that were in the past experienced by the mine which is operated by African Barrick Gold (ABG).
By MUGINI JACOB, Tanzania Daily News
