Geological survey show that Tanzania is endowed with many kinds of extractive resources and mining accounts for about 3.2% of Tanzania's GDP and 3.6% of its total tax revenues. Gold represents about 90% of these mineral exports and the petroleum sector is dominated by natural gas. Uranium is being explored in different parts of the country and it is estimated that Tanzania possesses 53.9 million pounds of uranium oxide (U3O8) deposits, valued at $2.2 billion.

This was said at the Policy Forum breakfast talk which took place on the 28th September 2012.

On 4th October 2012 Policy Forum in collaboration with Forum Syd and MSTDC organised a Social Accountability stakeholders meeting which took place at the Peacock Hotel in Dar es Salaam

The government of Tanzania has committed to continue increasing its efforts towards supporting small and medium sized mining enterprises to foster the increase of local content in the mining sector.

This was revealed yesterday when the Acting Commissioner for Minerals (Tanzania), Mr. Ally Bondo Samaje was delivering his speech at the national conference on minerals, oil and gas organised by Policy Forum in collaboration with Haki Madini and the Interfaith Standing Committee for Economic Justice and Integrity of Creation.

The proportion of citizens involved in road accidents each year now exceeds the nation's annual population growth. Speaking at the August breakfast debate organized by Policy Forum, Mr. Josh Palfreman of the Amend.Org said, 3.4 % of the Tanzania's GDP is lost due to traffic accidents each year and the problem is increasing as since 2007, road deaths and injuries have increased by an average of 10%.

He added that, research indicates that 75% of accidents are caused by 'human factors' notably: careless driving, speeding and overtaking.

On 4th October 2012 Policy Forum in collaboration with Forum Syd and MSTDC organised a Social Accountability stakeholders meeting which took place at the Peacock Hotel in Dar es Salaam

The Mama Misitu Campaign was launched today on 31st July 2012 at the Karim Jee Hall, Dar es Salaam by guest of Honor of the event Hon.Mwantumu Mahiza,Regional Commissioner of the Coast Region.

The government has been urged to involve local communities before releasing their land to investors. This was said at a breakfast debate organised by Policy Forum on the 27th of July, 2012 where the main presentations were made by Mr. Ben Sulus, Federation President of the Tanzania Forest Industries Federation (SHIVIMITA) and Ms. Rahima Njaidi, Executive Director, Mtandao wa Jamii wa Usimamizi wa Misitu Tanzania (MJUMITA).

Tanzania's health spending is still far less than what is recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO), stakeholders were told today at a policy debate in Dar es Salaam.

Speaking at the breakfast event organised by the Policy Forum, Dr. Flora Kessy of the Mzumbe University said that the WHO has recommended a per capita health spending of US$54 and the government’s own target is as outlined in the third Health Sector Strategic Plan (HSSP III) was a per capita health spending of US$ 15.75 by 2009/10 but this has not been met.

Policy Forum, a network representing over 100 different Civil Society Organizations working together to increase informed civil society participation in policy making, together with the Tax Justice Network – Africa and Actionaid Tanzania, on Sunday 17th of June 2012 unveiled a report on Tax incentives and revenue losses in Tanzania to about 90 members of parliament in Dodoma.

As the Minister for Finance tables the National Budget for Financial Year 2012/13 in Parliament tomorrow, we, members of the Policy Forum Budget Working Group, representing over 100 different Civil Society Organisations working together to increase informed civil society participation in policy making, would like to make our contribution to this key process.