WHY TANZANIA NOT GETTING RIGHTFUL TANZANITE RECEIPTS

Tanzanite dealers from different countries look at samples of gemstones during the 3rd exhibition of Tanzania gemstones held in Arusha yesterday. PHOTO|FILBERT RWEYEMAMU 

By  Patty Magubira, The Citizen Reporter

Arusha. Smuggling is denying Tanzania 80 per cent of receipts accrued from tanzanite -- a gemstone so far only found in the country -- an official said here yesterday.

Briefing the media on the sidelines of the 3rd Arusha Gem Fair (AGF), the commissioner of minerals, Mr Paul Masanja, said the remaining 80 per cent went to other countries, particularly Kenya and India.

“These are official figures of the governments of these countries,” said Mr Masanja, explaining that while Tanzania exported $38 million worth of tanzanite in 2013, Kenya and India’s exports of the precious gemstone were valued at $100 million and $300 million, respectively.

Mr Masanja said construction of Madini House in Arusha and a fence surrounding the mines as stipulated in rules and regulations guiding activities at the 10-square-kilometre Mirerani Controlled Area (MCA) would go a long way in curbing the vice.

He pleaded with local dealers he accused of greatly contributing to the tanzanite smuggling to use certificates of origin for exporting the gemstone, as the move would ensure the coffers captured sufficient receipts.

The government had attempted to fence the MCA, but some unscrupulous people demolished it, lamented Mr Masanja, adding that the rules of the area required each miner to recruit workers and provide them with identity cards in a bid to control entrance and exit from the mines.

The rules and regulations also direct each of the miners to recruit warders in a bid to prevent workers and visitors to the area from stealing tanzanite and smuggling it.
CREDIT SOURCE: THE CITIZEN