Tanzania’s president has fired the cabinet secretary od the mining ministry and the chief of the state-run mineral audit agency after receiving a report into whether mining companies were under-declaring the value of their exports, the Citizen reports.
The President also dissolved the Tanzania Mineral Audit Agency (TMAA) board of directors and the Chief executive officer according to the Daily News.
According to the Citizen, the President has also urged the Energy and Mineral Minister Prof. Sospeter Muhongo to consider stepping down after the mineral sand saga report.
“The Minister is my friend but I want him to reconsider his poisiont… I am advising him to step down, said President Magufuli.
The President’s decision announced on Wednesday has escalated tension between the government and the industry, which has denied engaging in tax evasion. Mining accounts for about 4 percent of Tanzania’s gross domestic product.
