The Rwanda Mining Association (RMA) has elected new leaders.

The elections were conducted during the association’s General Assembly, on Thursday, in Kigali.

Those elected include the president, two vice-presidents, accountant, secretary, auditors and counsellor. They will serve a three-year mandate.

Jean Malic Kalima was re-elected as chairman of the association, Janet Mutesi first vice-president while Leonidas Simpenzwe was elected second vice-president.Bonny Mbanza and Immaculee Nyiranzirorera were elected as auditors.

 For the post of advisor, three candidates were elected:  Bishop Aloys Ndindabahizi, Damien Munyarugerero and Jean De Dieu Mutunzi.

The new committee comprises 11 members.

The director of capacity building entrepreneurship at the Private Sector Federation, Donatien Mugwarareba, presided over the election.

Speaking after the election, Kalima commended the members for electing him and promised to accomplish pending tasks of the association.

"We are going to work closely with the new members to improve the mining sector in the country,’’ Kalima said.

Evode Imena, the Minister of State in charge of Mining, congratulated the former executive for their achievements and wished the new leadership well in their roles.

 He commended the  role played by the  Rwanda Mining Association toward the development of the country.

"Team work is key to success.  No man is an island. We want you to help one another and join efforts to ensure professional mining,” Imena said.

Earlier, Kalima highlighted advocacy on various taxes and members’ credit facilities among their previous achievements.

Operating under the auspices of the Private Sector Federation (PSF), RMA comprises big concessions belonging to foreign investors represented by Rwanda Mining Investment Forum (RMIF), cooperatives as well as medium and individuals’ companies.

Even though mineral prices dropped on the international market last year, with Rwanda fetching only $194.5 million from mineral revenues against her target of $251.2 million, government believes there is still hope that Rwanda will fetch $400 million from minerals by 2017. This will require special efforts, such as increasing the volume of mineral production, diversifying  the type of minerals the country exports, and adding value to the minerals before they are exported.