In 2023, the prestigious "Woman of the Year in Mining" award was presented to Leminatha Cornel Kabigumila, a 38-year-old mother of two.
Before achieving this honor, Leminatha held four small-scale mining licenses for tin, yet the award ignited a new drive within her.
She went on to establish Rare Mining East Africa Ltd., now boasting 21 tin mining licenses, and an additional 74 licenses held under her name.
Leminatha invested 150 million Tanzanian shillings to obtain these licenses after previous owners defaulted on payments.
She also paid 120 million shillings to acquire 33 licenses from another debtor, ensuring these assets remained active.
Today, she holds a remarkable 95 small-scale tin mining licenses and one for gold, all actively contributing to Tanzania’s mining sector.
"That award gave me the motivation and strength to push forward. I was proud of myself for not giving up," Leminatha shared.
"I didn’t have a company before, but now I do, and it holds 21 licenses for tin mining. I’ve inspired people to pay off over 300 million shillings in outstanding government fees. My journey is one of resilience—I started from the very bottom, selling milk and donuts after my partner passed away, but I always held onto a bigger vision."
Leminatha’s award was presented during the annual "Mining Gala Night," held at the Tanzania Mining Investment Conference. This special evening recognizes outstanding contributions to the mining sector across categories, such as revenue contribution to the government, corporate social responsibility, local engagement, and value addition, which collectively drive the sector's growth in Tanzania.
Reflecting on her early days in mining, Leminatha recounted how she began in 2017 in Mwime village, Kahama, Shinyanga, collecting gold.
In 2021, she shifted her operations to Kyerwa in Kagera, where she now mines tin, selling to larger dealers through the Kyerwa Mineral Market.
"The global demand for tin is strong, making it a strategic focus for my operations," she explained.
Her passion for the mining industry stems from her personal love for minerals. "I entered the sector because of my genuine interest in mining.
Tanzania’s mining policies and regulations have been incredibly supportive, and I’ve received excellent guidance from government leaders," Leminatha noted.
"I’m grateful for the investment climate that allows me to flourish in the mining sector."
She expressed appreciation to the government for valuing all miners, especially women, and personally thanked President Samia Suluhu Hassan for her empowering influence.
"For me, she is not just a president but a teacher and a living example. I also thank all Mining Officers, especially Samwel Shoo, for believing in me and helping me obtain the licenses that now total 95, all in active use."
Leminatha urges other women to embrace hard work as a path to empowerment. "A woman’s labor is valuable and fulfilling. I encourage every woman to find something she loves, pursue knowledge in that field, and I guarantee that success will find her," she said. "Women, especially mothers, are natural role models for their children. The question is: what are they learning from you?"
She acknowledged that her investment journey has faced challenges, particularly the fluctuating prices of tin, but these obstacles only fuel her commitment to make a lasting impact for future generations. "I’m motivated to leave a legacy.
Contributing to my country’s economy brings me immense pride," Leminatha said.
Looking to the future, Leminatha plans to establish international markets for her minerals and eventually build her own factories in Tanzania, manufacturing products under her brand, LEM-NES International Ltd.
"I’m determined to see this vision come to life," she asserted.
In 2020, Tanzania joined the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) initiative, which ensures 3T minerals—tin, tantalum, and wolframite—are sourced responsibly from conflict-free regions with strict social standards, such as child labor prohibitions.
Through ICGLR certification, Tanzania’s tin miners can now access global markets with guaranteed demand.
The Kyerwa Tin Market, launched in May 2019, serves as a significant hub for tin, a versatile mineral with applications in various industries, including soldering metal pipes and electronic circuits, producing steel containers for food storage, coating iron sheets, and even in railway and aerospace systems.
As a pioneer among women in the mining value chain, Leminatha is an inspiration.
To empower more women and youth in the mining economy, Tanzania’s Ministry of Minerals has launched the Mining for Brighter Tomorrow (MBT) initiative in the 2024/25 fiscal year.
This program aims to support small-scale miners, particularly women and youth, by providing access to mining sites, equipment, vehicles, and machinery.
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