MARA, Oct. 15 -- FOR the people of Tarime, the renewal of Barricks mining licences for another 15 years is more than an extension of a commercial arrangement. It offers a test of whether a mining model built on government participation, community investment and shared economic interests can sustain a more constructive relationship between a major gold mine and its neighbours.

For Diana Marwa, the change is tangible.

For years, access to clean water meant walking long distances under the equatorial sun and competing with neighbours for scarce, unreliable supplies. Today, water flows from a tap at home.

That everyday convenience reflects a broader transformation around North Mara Gold Mine, where community development projects have helpe...