VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Sept. 24, 2013) - East Africa Metals Inc. (TSX VENTURE:EAM) is pleased to announce that its wholly owned Tanzanian subsidiary, Canaco Tanzania Limited (CTL), is the 2012 recipient of the Presidential Award on Corporate Social Responsibility and Empowerment. The award was organized through the Tanzanian Ministry of Energy and Minerals through the Extractive Industry Stakeholders Forum (EISF).

The awards ceremony was presided over by President Jakaya Kikwete, who described the award process as "an excellent opportunity to evaluate, acknowledge, and reward efforts that extractive companies are expending in support of communities around them."

In addition to the Presidential Award, CTL was also the recipient of numerous other awards for exploration companies, including:

• First Place for Corporate Social Responsibility and Empowerment (CSRE),
• First Place for Empowerment programs for the Communities in the CSRE,
• First Place for Procurement programs for the Communities in the CSRE,
• First Place for Water programs for the Communities in the CSRE,
• Second Place for Education programs for the Communities in the CSRE,
• Second Place for Employment programs for the Communities in the CSRE, and
• Second Place for Infrastructure development for the Communities in the CSRE.

The award judged the mining sector's large, medium, and small scale companies on their contribution to the sustenance of education, health, and employment. The extractive industry companies were classified into four categories - large scale mining, medium scale mining, oil and gas, and exploration (minerals, oil, and gas). Additional information about the EISF can be found online at http://eisftz.org.

The ceremony was also attended by Minister for Energy and Minerals, Prof Sospeter Muhongo, Ministry's Permanent Secretary Eliakim Maswi, Acting Commissioner Ally Samaje, Canadian High Commissioner Alexandre Lévêque, some Members of Parliament, and various members of the extractive industry sector.

The recipients of the awards were determined by scores based 60% on performance records on file with the Ministry of Mines and 40% from surveys of the opinions of local communities in which the companies operate.

While East Africa Metal's mandate for CSR and Environmental initiatives comes from the Board of Directors and senior management, credit for the development and execution of effective programs goes to EAM's in-country staff headed by Denis Dillip.

"We are greatly appreciative of President Kikwete's recognition of our efforts to have a positive impact on the local communities and environments in which we work as represented by this award, but particularly pleased that ‎local communities in the Handeni region have acknowledged the beneficial relationship they have with the company and its personnel," said Andrew Lee Smith, CEO of East Africa Metals. "EAM is committed to continue to improve and evolve our CSR and Environmental programs and foster the excellent relations we have with local communities in the Handeni Region."

About East Africa Metals

The Company's principal asset is the Handeni Property located in north-eastern Tanzania and covers an area of approximately 97 square kilometres. The Handeni Property includes the Magambazi Project, a gold deposit discovered in 2009.

More information on the Company can be viewed at the Company's website www.eastafricametals.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors:

Andrew Lee Smith, P.Geo.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

East Africa Metals
Nick Watters
Business Development
604.488.0822 or Toll Free: 866.488.0822
604.899.1240 (FAX)
nwatters@eastafricametals.com
www.eastafricametals.com