Magufuli says will close all mines if firms delay talks to resolve tax dispute

Tanzanian President John Magufuli has said he will close all the mines if mining companies delay negotiations to resolve a dispute over billions of dollars in back taxes which the government say they owe.

President Magufuli on Friday said it would be better to give those mines to Tanzanians to extract, sell the minerals themselves and pay the taxes, rather than giving to "people who call themselves investors with the intention of stealing from Tanzanians.”