Determining The Effects Of Small Scale Gold Mining On The Surrounding Community’s Welfare, The Case Study Of Mugusu Sub County, Geita District, Tanzania

ABSTRACT

Artisanal and Small Scale Gold Mining is considered to be the most appropriate means of improving local communities’ livelihood. Particular emphasis was directed to the existing Mugusu small scale mining situated in Mugusu village in Geita district. The study focused on the operational practices of the existing gold mining, the pertaining problems and how various parties have resorted in addressing the emerged conflicts. The study was guided by four specific objectives namely, to identify the main livelihood occupations, to find out the challenges faced during the mining of gold, to establish the problems that the surrounding communities face due to mining operations, to find out the strategies of reducing the problems resulting from mining. Under the aspect of primary data collection, due to limited time and financial constraints a sample of 1O% was drawn to make a total number of 100 respondents. Also purposeful sampling was used to select some of the respondents such as district officials, and village government leaders. The report identified two main effects which to some extent affects the surrounding community’s welfare. These effects include social and environmental ones. Apart from that also the report pointed out technology/equipments used as a major challenge faced small scale gold miners. However the report concluded that small scale gold mining have effects both on social and environment in particular of which the government as a sole proprietor should put more emphasis on addressing the identified challenges and effects. In so doing the surrounding community’s livelihood development and environmental sustainability will be ensured.