TanzaniteOne spends on social development
By Hans Nakora
Arusha
TanzaniteOne, formerly known as AFGEM, has spent over 400m/= over the past four
years on various social development projects in Simanjiro district in Manyara
region where the tanzanite mining company is based.
The company's president and chief operations officer, Mr. Ian Harebottle said
the funds have been targeted towards social upliftment.
"We have been targeting social upliftment of the Maasai people, preserving
Tanzania=s natural treasures and improving the living and working conditions of
stakeholders as well as the general infrastructure", said Mr. Harebottle, in an
interview this week.
The TanzaniteOne=s first community development project, he said, was the upgrade
and electrification of a medi-clinic in a rural area adjacent to the tanzanite
mining area.
TanzaniteOne has also conducted a comprehensive risk assessment on HIV/AIDS as
well as carrying out awareness programmes in conjunction with World Vision.
TanzaniteOne says is committed to the ongoing measures to help provide and
promote a positive sustainable social, economic and environmental impact of the
mine and its surrounding community.
All the community development projects are co-ordinated at district level by the
Community Development Committee, under the guidance of the office of the
district Commissioner.
Other community development projects supported by TanzaniteOne include water
projects and the supply of grazing terrain for the Maasai communities,
rehabilitation of the environment, specifically in the tanzanite mining area.
This includes clearing and disposing debris littering the mining areas.
He said much of the debris in the mining area that was creating an environmental
hazard, suffocating vegetation and contributing to pollution has been cleared.
The Tanzanite Foundation has also reconstructed the road between Kilimanjaro
International Airport and the tanzanite mining area and has continuously
maintained the road so that miners, dealers and villagers have a safe and
reliable travel route between the airport and the mining area.
|
