Introduction to Policy Forum 

The Policy Forum (PF) is a network of more than 60 Tanzanian civil society organizations established in 2003 and drawn together by their specific interest in augmenting the voice of ordinary citizens to influence policy processes that help in poverty reduction, equity, and democratization with a specific focus on public money accountability at both central and local levels.

Tax Justice Working Group (TJWG) is a group of Civil Society Organisations under the umbrella of the Policy Forum that pioneers a reliable, just, and transparent tax system in Tanzania. As a group of stakeholders interested in ensuring Tanzania benefits from its resources, TJWG is in the interest of producing a documentary showing the state of poverty in the mining community, Geita Region being the case study.  This is probed by the fact that despite the country’s remarkable economic growth, the reduction of poverty particularly in the mining communities has not been significant.  The documentary will be an important advocacy tool to influence social-economic development.

Background Information & Context

Overview of the mining sector

Tanzania has a conducive and prospective geological environment with diverse, abundant mineral potential, including Gold, the world’s unique Tanzanite gemstone and energy generation minerals. The sector is characterized by large, medium, artisanal, and small-scale mining with leading gold production making it the fourth in Africa after South Africa, Ghana, and Mali.

Despite the vast mineral reserves in Tanzania, the contribution of this sector to the national economy and community development does not seem to meet citizens’ expectations compared to other sectors of the economy. Translating natural resources to improve community livelihood remains a nightmare as poverty is still said to be persistent.

The Government of Tanzania has continued to institute different policies, laws, and regulations to improve the mining sector's economic performance. The Government has the sole objective of making the mining sector one of the significant contributors to the national economy. Due to the Government's efforts, the country has witnessed an annual increase in mineral production. In the fiscal year 2019/20, Tanzania realised a total minerals production had a value of TZS 7.3 trillion compared to 4.7 trillion and 3.7 trillion in the fiscal years 2018/19 and 2017/18, respectively.

The growth in mineral production from 2018/19 to 2019/20 is equivalent to 35.6%. In 2021, the mining sector accounted for 7.1% as a contribution to the national GDP. In terms of commercial significance, gold as the leading mineral accounted for 28% and 34% of total country export in 2020 and 2021, respectively. These are quite a significant contribution to the national economy. Moreover, revenue recorded by the ministry of minerals from the Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining operators suggests that the sector is growing significantly.

Furthermore, the sector generates three primary outputs needed for national economic development: revenues, raw materials, and local procurement of goods and services essential for economic diversification, which will further be translated into poverty reduction.

The rationale for Geita as a case study

GEITA is a leading region in the production and extraction of Gold Minerals by both large-scale mining/industrial, Artisanal, and small-scale mining operations. A presence of Geita Gold Mining, owned by Anglo Gold Ashanti, is a large-scale Mining operating under a special mining license. According to the 8th and 9th TEITI reconciliation reports, GGM is the leading company in Tax and non-Tax revenue collections in the respective accounts.

In the fiscal year 2019/20, when Tanzania recorded a total mineral export value of TZS 5.59 trillion, gold dominated the leading exporting company Geita Gold Mining Limited, with an exportation value of TZS 2.3 trillion.

Furthermore, according to the district council plans, about 85 percent of the population is engaged in subsistence production and livestock keeping, and agriculture contributes more than 75 percent of the district’s GDP. Looking at district revenue collection to the national treasury, however, 90 percent is derived from Geita Gold Mine. Since small-scale mining, to a large degree, is performed informally, its contribution to the district economy tends to be underestimated.

Poverty in Geita

Despite the economic opportunities available, Geita is one of Tanzania's poorest regions, with insufficient secondary school desks and seats. Geita, for example, has the lowest availability, with 1.12 students per chair and 1.11 students per desk, according to a report from the Basic Education Statistics in Tanzania (BEST).

A report published by The Citizen newspaper shows that poverty in many households in the rural suburbs of Nyan'gwale and Chato districts in the Geita region has made it easier for parents and guardians to include their children in search of cash for a living and ignore the importance of education for their teenagers. According to the report, more than 50 students drop out yearly in Chato District, where teens employ themselves in fishing and agricultural activities.

Generally, access to quality and reliable social services such as health and education facilities, water sources, road infrastructures and Access to Justice are significant challenges in Geita that lead to persistent poverty.

The objective of the documentary 

To produce a documentary that will use Geita as a case study to inform on the poverty level despite the region being the major export of gold and leading on gold revenue collection from Large Scale and ASM operators. The purpose is to raise a debate about the actual contribution of public resources to community livelihood and poverty reduction.

Target Audience

Citizens and policymakers are the documentary's intended audience.

Deliverables 

The consultant is expected to produce the documentary tailored to disseminate its content in a very simple manner for the audience to understand. Moreover, vivid examples should be used as evidence to emphasize the arguments to be raised.  A mixture of representation of characters and information should be employed to create an appealing taste for the viewers. The documentary should not exceed 10 minutes showing the state of poverty in the Geita Region linking it with the production of gold and revenues generated by the mining company(ies).

The consultant should also deliver a visual story using still photos taken during the production of the documentary.