World Bank to investigate miners' deaths

Bulyanhulu is the third Africa's largest producer of gold

By the BBC's Christine Otien in Dar es Salaam

The World Bank has promised to investigate allegations that more than 50 small-scale gold miners were buried alive because police wanted to evict them from land to make way for a foreign company, operating with an investment guarantee from the bank.

The government has denied accusations that police were to blame for the deaths - which allegedly occurred when they were evicting the miners from land that had been sold to a foreign mining company.

A prominent judge, Justice Mark Bomani, has called on the government to open an investigation into the murder allegations.

In 1996 the northern Tanzanian gold mines of Bulyanhulu were sold to a foreign company.

To start their mining operation, the company needed to move the small-scale miners who were working in the area.

Dispute

It was during this move that the police allegedly buried alive miners who had either refused to leave or were still in the pits.

The government has always refuted the claims and Attorney General Andrew Chenge has asked Justice Bomani to produce proof of the alleged killings - which the government says did not occur.

Among the groups accusing the police are the Lawyers Environmental Action Team (LEAT).

President Mkapa: Big mining companies should help small scale miners

LEAT has also filed a case against the World Bank's Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA).

The agency has extended an investment guarantee to the mining company now working in Bulyanhulu.

Bank policies "disregarded"

LEAT secretary Tundu Lissu, says the guarantee is in breach of World Bank policies.

"We want the $172 million political risk guarantee issued for the Bulyanhulu project be withdrawn", he said.

The World Bank has promised to look into the matter.