Red dust clings to maize fields and coats village homes in southern Tanzania. Villagers say, trucks rumble past daily carrying soil destined for processing plants far from their land. Children cough, mothers worry, and farmers watch their crops struggle under the weight of an industry they do not control.

Yet beneath these quiet hills lie some of the world’s most coveted minerals, rare-earth elements (REEs) that power electric cars, wind turbines, and advanced electronics. Russia, cut off from Western markets by sanctions, has turned to Africa, and Tanzania is suddenly on its map. Officials in Dar es Salaam call the mining boom an opportunity for jobs, revenue, and new technology.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan has emphasised that Tanzania should extract and add value to its minerals within the country. ‘Our goal is to ensure that more Tanzanians benefit from our mineral resources by adding value within the country,’ she said during remarks to TMIC Magazine in 2024. Still, the question hangs over every truckload: will the wealth enrich Tanzanian communities, or flow abroad while locals are left with dust and debt? Who truly profits from these resources, the farmers whose land is scarred, or the investors watching from afar?

As civil-society activist Fatma Mohamed of the Tanzania Natural Resource Forum puts it, ‘We want to be part of the decisions that affect our land and lives. Transparency is key; the government must ensure agreements are open and the people’s voices heard.’

The Ngualla Rare Earths Project: Community Impact

In Ngwala and surrounding villages, the rare earth boom is part of daily life. Dust from trucks coats fields and homes, spreading fear, diseases, and uncertainty as reported by The Citizen in 2021. Rehema Nchimbi, recalling coal mining impacts in Ruvuma, said, ‘Children have developed coughs and they have to spend a lot of money for treatment.’ For many in Songwe, the promise of mining feels less like prosperity and more like survival. ‘Our maize fields are covered in red dust, and the air makes people sick,’ said a mother of three from the same community, who requested anonymity for fear of repercussions.

However, Dr Ibrahim Sekei, a mineral expert, explains that Tanzanian law protects water sources, yet mining often pushes these safeguards aside. He warns that rare earth processing produces acids and toxic tailings, with residues that can sometimes be radioactive. ‘Without strong oversight, environmental and health costs fall directly on the people,’ he said.

Officials and companies highlight a different picture. At the compensation launch in Ngwala, District Commissioner Solomon Itunda called the new project a turning point: ‘The Ngualla Project was signed on 17 April 2023 at the State House in Dodoma, and we believe once production starts, many of our youth will find jobs and Songwe’s regional income will grow.’ Mamba Minerals CEO Ismail Diwani confirmed construction is expected to begin in December 2025, including a processing plant and a 12-megawatt power unit. Minerals Minister Anthony Mavunde projected more than Sh12 trillion in revenue for the government, insisting locals will benefit through jobs and local content.

While Tanzania’s laws require environmental impact assessments, enforcement has lagged behind the government’s ambitions for value addition, according to the Tanzania Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (TEITI) and the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI).

Civil society voices push back. Engineer Lightness Salema, newly appointed Continental Vice President of Commonwealth Business Women Africa and former head of its Tanzania chapter said, ‘The future of mining in Tanzania must be inclusive, innovative and sustainable, empowering our people while securing our nation’s prosperity.’ Women leaders warn that without stronger safeguards, communities will remain excluded and continue to bear mining’s hidden costs.

Economic Prospects and Benefits

Tanzania’s rare earth minerals could reshape the country’s economic landscape. Why?  The mining sector contributed over 10% of GDP in 2024, up from 3.5% in 2008. Initiatives like the Ngualla Rare Earth Project have provided local employment for roughly 60% of the workforce and aim to support broader community development. Civil society advocates stress that mining wealth must reach the communities alongside the mines.

Mamba Minerals has begun compensation programs and plans long-term investments in education, healthcare, and infrastructure. ‘Once production begins, many youths in Songwe are expected to find work, and regional income should grow,’ said District Commissioner Itunda. CEO Diwani outlined plans for the processing plant and 12-megawatt power unit, with construction scheduled for December 2025. Minister Mavunde projected over Sh12 trillion in direct revenue, emphasizing local content and meaningful community benefits.

Civil society groups caution that high-value processing jobs must reach locals and that investments in schools, clinics, and infrastructure cannot be short-term. For communities, the promise of mineral wealth is both opportunity and anxiety. They watch trucks carry rare earths away while tangible benefits lag. Activists warn that without transparent, enforceable contracts, the industry risks leaving behind broken promises. Behind the upbeat projections, however, lies another reality: one of opaque contracts, hidden costs, and unanswered questions about who truly benefits.

Opaque Contracts and Power Imbalances

 In Dodoma offices and Mamba Minerals meeting rooms, far from Songwe’s red-dusted villages, the real contest over Tanzania’s rare earths is unfolding. Villagers face uncertain land rights, disrupted farmland, and unfulfilled promises, while key decisions happen behind closed doors.

Tanzania joined the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) on 16 February 2009 and became compliant in 2012. Yet contract details such as tax breaks, profit-sharing formulas, and environmental obligations often remain hidden. In 2023, the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) rated Tanzania’s extractive sector weak for contract transparency, even as 70 percent of EITI implementing countries disclosed at least one contract.

While officials point to progress on compensation and project revenues issues that have already sparked concern in affected villages, civil society voices stress transparency. Fatma Mohamed, says, ‘Mining agreements must be publicly accessible. Without transparency, the people bear the environmental cost while benefits vanish into secrecy.’

Foreign investors bring different pressures. Activists note that Russia prioritises speed and resource control, pushing Tanzania toward deals with limited oversight. Recent contracts have favoured investors, prompting disputes and large government payouts. Reforms since 2017 aim to correct these imbalances, but enforcement remains challenging.

‘Accountability is non-negotiable’, says Engineer Lightness Salema. She also urges women to seize opportunities in mining, including supplying local materials and other essentials, to strengthen their economic standing and ensure that the industry benefits Tanzanian communities.

For communities in Ngwala, success is tangible: a paycheck, clean river water, and secure farmland. The balance between secrecy and transparency in contracts will determine whether Tanzania’s rare earth wealth truly benefits its people or primarily enriches outsiders.

Tanzania’s Strategic Leverage in the Global Race for Rare Earths.

Tanzania stands at a pivotal point in the global mineral race. Deputy Minister for Minerals, Dr. Steven Kiruswa highlighted at MINExpo International 2024 that the country’s rare earth deposits provide substantial bargaining power. He emphasized the National Critical and Strategic Minerals Strategy, designed to maximize benefits from mineral wealth while promoting sustainability.

Local officials note that Tanzania’s active participation in the African Union(AU) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) strengthens its position. By engaging regionally, the country can insist on fair contracts, transparency, and local content, demanding not only raw extraction, but industrial value addition and technology transfer.

Russia’s investments, including a $1.2 billion uranium processing plant through Rosatom, show the strategic importance of Tanzania’s critical minerals and the complex pressures the country faces. Back in Songwe, community leaders and activists such as Fatma Mohamed stress the need for local impact. They advocate for jobs, infrastructure, and enduring industries that persist long after mining ends. Recent agreements with companies like Peak Rare Earths reinforce these goals. Minister of Minerals Anthony Mavunde has highlighted that local employment quotas, community development funds, and infrastructure commitments are central to such contracts .

Civil society maintains that leverage is only meaningful if contracts are transparent and enforceable. Without robust oversight, foreign powers could dominate the sector, leaving Tanzanian communities to shoulder social and environmental costs.

For negotiators and citizens alike, the imperative is clear: insist on public contracts, demand technology transfer, and build local capacity. Done correctly, Tanzania can transform from a raw mineral exporter into a global industrial player, ensuring that rare earth wealth benefits its people, not outsiders alone.

Russia’s Strategic Ambitions in Rare Earths: Tanzanians Reflect.

Russia holds vast rare earth reserves, estimated at around 3.8 million metric tons ranking fifth globally yet produces only about 2,500 tons annually, compared with China’s 240,000 tons. Moscow aims to capture 12% of the global market by 2030, driven by demand in electronics, electric vehicles, renewable energy, and military systems.

For Tanzanians, these developments evoke a mix of historical memory and cautious optimism. Communities recall that during Nyerere’s era, Russia’s involvement focused on education and development support, such as providing books and teachers. Today, the focus has shifted toward contracts and resource extraction, highlighting the need for transparency and local benefits.

Professor Aikande Kwayu of the University of Dar es Salaam notes that decades-old promises have often delivered limited local benefits. Current deals require vigilance to ensure communities gain from extraction. Dr. Ibrahim Sekei, a mineral economics specialist, underscores that domestic refining and industrialization are essential for Tanzania to break cycles of dependency and capture the full economic value of rare earths. ‘The future rests on how we leverage this legacy for sustainable growth,’ he asserts.

By combining historical perspective, local insights, and strategic policy recommendations, Tanzania can navigate foreign investment carefully while positioning itself as a significant player in the global rare earth market.

Global and Geopolitical Context

Global climate goals have skyrocketed demand for rare earths, powering electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies. Tanzania’s Ngualla Rare Earths Project, one of the largest undeveloped deposits globally, has drawn international attention. The country’s engagement with Russia reflects a longstanding relationship encompassing trade, defense, and education. In early 2025, bilateral trade rose 20%, with Russian exports to Tanzania up 25%, primarily wheat, meslin, and fertilizers. Minister Kitila Mkumbo highlighted the first Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation held in 2024, citing Tanzania’s strategic location and stable politics as a gateway for Russian goods and investment into East Africa.

Civil society watchdogs caution that Russia’s priority remains rapid resource access under less stringent transparency and environmental conditions. . They emphasize the need for vigilance to negotiate firmly for accountability and local empowerment. in mineral deals, reinforcing lessons from past resource management experiences.

 ‘Tanzania holds a seat at the green economy table if it manages its resources well. But the stakes differ vastly depending on perspective,’ said Dr. Ibrahim Sekei. As Tanzania navigates this complex landscape, the choices it makes will determine whether the nation can leverage its mineral wealth to support sustainable development or repeat the pattern of foreign extraction with limited local advantage.

Why Governance, Inclusion, and Advocacy Matter for Tanzania’s Mining Future.

Rather than daily survival stories, the debate over Tanzania’s rare earth sector is not just about minerals, but about who makes the decisions and who bears the costs.  In town halls, policy briefings, and civil society forums, Tanzanians are raising harder questions: Who monitors the toxic waste from rare earth processing? Who speaks for women, youth, and small farmers when compensation is negotiated? And who ensures that promised billions in revenue actually reach schools, clinics, and local roads?

Civil society groups warn that without transparency, accountability, and genuine inclusion, mining projects risk deepening inequalities. Fatma Mohamed, cautioned that ‘decisions made in boardrooms far away from affected communities often ignore the daily struggles of women and children who face polluted water, dust, and displacement.’ Reports of intimidation, inadequate compensation for farmland, and restricted access to water amplify local anxieties.

‘Those minerals belong to us,’ says Daniel Chongolo, Regional Commissioner of Songwe. ‘Our communities watch closely, hoping promises turn into jobs, schools, and roads, not just export figures.’ Opposition leader Freeman Mbowe adds, ‘Over 80% of our precious minerals are privately held, many foreign-owned. Where is the benefit for Tanzanians? We demand accountability and fair shares for our people.’

Dr. Claude Kabemba of the Southern Africa Resource Watch emphasized the need for coalitions like the Pamoja Critical Minerals Alliance, which unites women, youth, and faith groups to advocate for justice and inclusion.‘ Stressing that resource governance must go beyond technical compliance. ‘It is about power, voice, and justice. Communities cannot remain spectators while their land is transformed and their livelihoods disrupted,’ he argued. For Fatma Mohamed, ’Respectful engagement and long-term local economic opportunities are essential,’

Advocacy coalitions are pressing for stronger safeguards and a more participatory approach. Engineer Lightness Salema, speaking on behalf of a sustainability forum, called for ‘a mining model that respects both the environment and people, ensuring benefits are widely shared rather than concentrated among a few.’

Government officials highlight efforts to balance development with safeguards: ‘Our goal is sustainable mining that benefits communities and the nation alike,’ said Deputy Minister Dr. Steven Kiruswa. They maintain that the sector can be both profitable and sustainable if properly regulated. The Ministry of Minerals according Minister Anthony Mavunde has highlighted revenue-sharing mechanisms, environmental monitoring, and local content policies as evidence of its commitment to balance. They argue that these frameworks will ‘deliver unprecedented benefits to Tanzanians while safeguarding communities from harm.’

The tension between official assurances and community mistrust underscores why governance, inclusion, and advocacy are so central to Tanzania’s mining future.

Economic Opportunities and Community Benefits.

Mining initiatives like the Ngualla Rare Earth Project have already provided local employment for roughly 60% of the workforce and aim to support broader community development.‘ Once production begins, many youths in Songwe are expected to find work, and regional income should grow,’ said District Commissioner Solomon Itunda.

Mamba Minerals CEO Ismail Diwani outlined plans for full-scale construction, including a processing plant and 12-megawatt power unit, expected to start in December 2025. Compensation programs and long-term investments in education, healthcare, and infrastructure are also planned.

Civil society advocates caution that high-value processing jobs must reach locals, and community investments cannot be limited to short-term gains. For residents, the promise of mineral wealth is both opportunity and anxiety: they see the trucks carry rare earths away, yet tangible benefits often lag.

Between Wealth and Will: Tanzania’s Defining Moment.

Tanzania’s rare earth reserves could define the country’s future. Either as a path to sustainable prosperity or another chapter of exploitation. The choice is stark, and the moment is historic. As Nyerere once said, ‘Our resources must serve Tanzanians first.’ That truth has never been more urgent.

This moment presupposes a crossroads: will Tanzania’s vast mineral wealth be a tool of exploitation or the cornerstone of sovereign industrial growth? It defines the choice between external appetite and internal assertion, raw resources and refined opportunity.

Tanzania’s future waits for no one. The people stand firm, voices clear: this is our land, our wealth, and our will. Between raw resources and refined opportunity, Tanzanians hold the balance, prosperity only arrives if their will leads.