📍Rombo, February 28, 2026
The Rock Block mine in Rombo District, Kilimanjaro Region, is fast emerging as a catalyst for transformation in Tanzania’s building materials sub-sector, having generated 122 jobs and contributed more than Sh400 million to government revenue within three years of operation.
Acting Kilimanjaro Resident Mines Officer, Engineer Abel Madaha, said in an exclusive interview in Rombo that the extraction and carving of rock for building materials form part of the government’s broader strategy to regulate, develop and add value to industrial and building material resources.
He noted that the mine has continued to boost public revenue through fees, royalties and various taxes remitted to institutions, including the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) and the Rombo District Council, thereby stimulating economic growth in Rombo and the Kilimanjaro Region at large.
According to Engineer Madaha, the rocks extracted in Holili originated from ancient lava flows from Mount Kilimanjaro, making the area home to rare and unique raw materials found only in Rombo District within the country.
The mine produces a wide range of building materials, including machine-cut rock bricks, paving blocks, tiles, cobblestones, wall cladding stones, kerbstones used for road edging, and pozzolana — a special black sand used in cement production and other construction works.
Engineer Madaha explained that rock bricks manufactured at the site are three times stronger than ordinary bricks, resistant to fungus and mold, and highly durable — qualities that make them ideal for modern construction projects.
He called upon investors to explore opportunities in the building materials sub-sector, emphasizing its vast potential to expand employment and accelerate economic growth.
Meanwhile, Rock Block Limited Managing Director Fabian Woisso said the company has employed 72 permanent staff members and 50 casual workers, helping to ease youth unemployment in the area.
He said the company’s products serve domestic markets, particularly in Kilimanjaro, Arusha, Tanga, Dodoma and Dar es Salaam regions, where demand for building materials continues to rise alongside expanding infrastructure and housing projects.
Beyond its commercial operations, Woisso said the company has invested in corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, including the construction of a nine-kilometre road from Holili to Kidondoni, the building of a classroom at Kidondoni Primary School, and the donation of bricks to schools and police posts.
He urged young people to seize emerging opportunities in the building materials industry, underscoring the sector’s capacity to create jobs, increase national revenue and drive sustainable socio-economic development.
