Like many other developing countries hosting multinational mines in rural communities, Tanzania has not only witnessed a mushrooming investment in its extractive industry, but has also experienced continuous contestation and disagreements between key stakeholders in the industry. This study demonstrates that analysis of the antagonistic relationship between multinational mines and communities, offers a productive way through which deeper understanding of corporate - community relations, particularly stakeholder dialogue practices can be developed. The study views this 'battleground' as not necessarily a problem. Instead, it employs an analytical approach to the actions, views and perspectives of community of place, to offer a locally grounded construct of stakeholder dialogue.