DAR ES SALAAM, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian President John Magufuli on Wednesday ordered newly appointed Minister for Minerals, Doto Biteko, to put to an end to the smuggling of gold out of the east African nation.
President Magufuli appointed Biteko, a former Deputy Minister for Minerals, on Tuesday, replacing Angellah Kairuki, who was appointed Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office responsible for investment promotion.
Biteko became the third Minister for Minerals appointed by President Magufuli since he took office in November 2015.
Speaking shortly after he had sworn-in Biteko and other senior government officials at State House in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam, Magufuli expressed his dissatisfaction at the supervision of the key mining sector.
A statement issued by the Directorate of Presidential Communication at State House said President Magufuli directed the new Minister for Minerals to work closely with other relevant authorities in establishing gold selling centers in the country.
Magufuli said the Ministry of Minerals should, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Planning and the Bank of Tanzania, create centers for selling gold.
The mining sector contributes less than 5 percent of gross domestic product, prompting the government to accuse large-scale mining companies of not paying their fare share of taxes.
