Impounded tanzanites up for sale

HAZLA OMAR in Arusha

THE government, through the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, has started to auction gemstones, diamonds, gold and other valuable minerals that were impounded in a consignment belonging to smugglers.

The Deputy Commissioner for Minerals, Engineer Ally Samaje, said the value of tanzanite gemstones that will be put up for auction in Arusha is beyond 2.5 billion/-.

The tanzanites, together with other minerals, will be sold under the hammer at the annual Arusha Gems Fair 2016 which is already underway at Mount Meru Hotel here.

“Each bidder will pledge his or her amount in secrecy, thus the value of each buyer will remain under wraps to ensure that the government gets the highest value possible, without the buyers colluding to keep prices low as it has been the case in other auctions involving valuable items,” said Eng Samaje.

The 5th Arusha Gemstones Fair 2016, running under the theme of ‘Minerals of East Central and Southern Africa in one fair,’ has attracted participants from all over the globe with much of their interests being pegged onto Tanzanite gemstones that are only found and mined in Northern Tanzania.

During the Arusha Game Fair of April 2015 minerals and gemstones worth 7.4bn/- were sold, earning interests of more than 300m/-. It is now expected that after the three days of this year’s event at least 10bn/- worth of transactions will be realized, according to the organizers.

“But the most important thing with this fair is to have local miners and mineral dealers meet and exchange experience with counterparts from African countries and those hailing from as far afield as India, Australia, Israel, Thailand and Sir Lanka,” said the Deputy Commissioner of Minerals.

The Arusha-Urban District Commissioner (DC), Mr Fadhili Nkulu was the guest honor during the opening ceremony of the Arusha Gems Fair 2016 and used the occasion to insist that all locally mined minerals must be polished and processed in the country before export so as to add value and create employment.

Nearly 1,000 exhibitors and participants are attending the Arusha gemstones Fair 2016 and among them 500 from Tanzania, the host country and 500 more from other countries