Mining zone collects Sh2bn

What you need to know:
A statement says the Southern Mining Zone collected Sh1.8 billion against the target of Sh1.2 billion during the fiscal year
Dar es Salaam. The Southern Mining Zone surpassed a target of non-tax revenue collection in the 2014/15 financial year, according to the Ministry of Energy and Minerals.
A statement by the ministry on Saturday quoted the zonal officer in charge of mining, Kasuhu Warioba, as saying the Southern Mining Zone collected Sh1.8 billion against the target of Sh1.2 billion during the fiscal year.
According to the statement by attaining the level, the zone has been declared by the government as the first in non-tax revenue in the country’s mining sector in 2014/15.
Warioba who released the report during the marking of Farmers Day at Ngongo grounds in Lindi is based in Mtwara.
The Southern Zonal Office covers Mtwara and Nachingwea in Lindi.
Natural gas is plentiful in Mtwara while Nachingwea in Lindi is famous for gemstones such as chrysoberyl, garnets, zircons and rhodolite, sapphire, emerald, amethyst and tourmaline, according to the report.
“In a span of only half year the Nachingwea Mining Office collected Sh159.3 million and the annual target of non-tax collection is Sh300 million,” reads part of the statement.
In the 2015/16 financial year, the Southern Zone targets to collect total mining revenue of Sh3 billion, including a target of Sh2.4 billion for Mtwara Region and Sh600 million for Nachingwea, said Warioba.
When opening Nane Nane celebrations in Lindi last week, Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda called upon residents of Lindi and Mtwara regions to use business opportunities offered by huge discoveries of natural gas.
He said the two regions were poised to become giant business centres with remarkable economic transformation due to huge discoveries of natural gas.