Enhancing Access to Remedies in Tanzania’s Extractive Industry: A Focus on Environmental Appeal Tribunal

The development driven by extractive resources is often viewed as a pathway to improving societal welfare. However, the benefits of this industry could be overshadowed by its adverse impacts on local communities, particularly those close to extraction sites. A recent study conducted by ASF has shed light on significant human rights violations, particularly about the right to private ownership of property, the right to privacy, the right to a clean and healthy environment, and the fundamental right to work (ASF, 2024).

The study found that as human rights violations continue to escalate due to extractive operations, the aggrieved communities face challenges when seeking redress through existing remedy platforms such as Local Government Authorities (LGAs), company grievance mechanisms, the Commission of Human Rights and Good Governance (CHRAGG), the National Environment Management Council (NEMC), the police force, and the judiciary.