By BERNARD LUGONGO
Tanzanian government and civil societies group are still clinging to
their conflicting stances over uranium mining in the country.
The group has been protesting the mining of the uranium basing on the
environmental pollution, but the government has stuck to its gun—with
trial uranium projects are ongoing.
National Coordinator, Interfaith Standing Committee on Economic
Justice and Integrity of Creation, Ms Grace Masalakulangwa, said a
stand of the civil society organizations is that the uranium should
not be mined in the country.
"We civil societies protest this because there is no specific law yet
to address the issue of environment pollution that would be as result
of packing and transporting the uranium. But the government has
remained with its stand that it would go on to mine.
Executive Director of HAKIMADINI, an organization advocating for
rights of locals in mining areas, Mr Amani Mhinda, asked: "Do Tanzania
need uranium? Are we ready for uranium mining?"
The concern by the civil societies comes just a day after a new
development was reached at Mkuju River Uranium Project.
Urenium One Company on Wednesday this week announced that it has
completed the Mkuju River Uranium Project, thus putting the country in
a good position to become among the top five producers of uranium in
Africa.
The company's Chief Operation officer, Mr Andrey Shutov said in the
coming two years they will start mining activities, noting that the
project expected to boost the country's economy.
According to Mr Shotov, the project started seven years ago and that
it has reached to the implementation stage after various research
studies were conducted.
--
BERNARD LUGONGO,
SENIOR WRITER,
DAILY NEWS,
Tanzania Standard Newspapers Ltd,
MOB: +255 713 636856.
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