Abstract:
The study was aimed at assessing the socio-economic constraints facing small scale miners in their effort to reduce income poverty. Specifically, the study identified activities performed by local miners; assessed socio-economic challenges faced by local artisan miners in their daily activities and assessed socio-economic challenges that faced Local Artisanal Miners (LAMs) towards poverty reduction. The study was done at Mererani in Simanjiro District whereby data were collected from 100 local mining workers. Simple random sampling was applied to select respondents. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected. The study focused on the artisanal miners who worked under the supervision of the claim owners. The study employed a cross - sectional design whereby data were collected through personal observations, self - administered questionnaire and informal discussions with local miners and officials at the study area. Four blocks and one ward were selected in the study area. The study found out that all the respondents interviewed were male. Results revealed that socio-economic constraints were significant to the poor performance of the sector towards poverty reduction among them. The findings show that the technological constraints were fairly low. The majority of the local miners admitted that these socio-economic constraints limited them to accumulate the potential wealth from the mining sector. Lack of government support, lack of adequate operation funds and lack of market center to provide information to local miners were the factors leading to poor social – economic status among the LAMs. It is recommended that, the government should rectify the existing situation through improvement of working condition and advanced simple technology among local miners so as to reduce the level of poverty through small scale mining which employ majority of unskilled youth in Tanzania particularly at Mererani. The study findings suggest that the government should intervene to find a way to reduce price for mining tools so as to enable the LAMs to afford to buy and use simple sophisticated technology.
