Tanzania President Magufuli fires Mines Minister

Tanzania’s president John Magufuli fired the mining minister and the chief of the state-run mineral audit agency on Wednesday, local media reported.

This came after Magufuli received report on whether mining companies within the country were under-declaring the value of their exports.

“The minister is my friend and I like him very much but I will not forgive him for this,” Magufuli said in a televised address after receiving the report on Wednesday. “I want him to reconsider his position and I am advising him to step down.”

Magufuli’s decision to sack the mining minister signals an escalating tension between the mining industry and the national government.

The mining industry contributes over 4% of the national gross domestic product

Earlier this year, Tanzania’s president sacked the head of the state-run electricity company after the firm put up tariffs.

Tanzania’s energy regulator had approved a power tariff hike of 8.53 per cent by the Tanzania Electric Supply Company, less than half of what the utility said it needed to stem losses.