Things that are shining

Tanzania is one of the three biggest exporters of gold worldwide.  Unfortunately, all the gold mining areas are owned by foreign corporations and all the profits flow out of the country.

In northern Tanzania gold became known in the 70’s. The villagers of Bulyanhulu found ‘things that were shining’ in the soil uprooted by fallen trees. They picked them and used them for playing. Only after showing them to foreign visitors did they realise that the visitors are ready to pay a lot of money for their toys which they called ‘gold’. The villagers quickly organised themselves and started up small mines, some of the local mineowners employing several hundred people.

'things that are shining'

All went well until the government of Tanzania invited big scale investors to these areas in the 90’s. It sold the land at a cheap price to big international  mining companies and cleared the villages of all the people. And by clearing they meant bussiness – after the villagers rebelled, the government burried more than 50 of them alive with buldozers while they were mining in their local mines. The corrupt police force chased away the witnesses…

The aerial view of a gold mine

The people of Bulyanhulu and other villages in north Tanzania are some of the poorest in this country, while literary sleeping on tons of gold. Maisha, the locals would say, that is life. Corrupt leadership is what the rest of us say. And yes, that is the reality of Tanzania.

The situation on the ground is not as pretty as seen from above...