Energy and Minerals minister, William Ngeleja
Bermuda-based TanzaniteOne Ltd. says it had been granted a "staged" exemption from Tanzania's prohibition on exports of rough tanzanite larger than five carats, or one gramme, agencies report.
The company will be given a moratorium allowing for 100 percent export of its production, including stones in excess of five carats until December 31, TanzaniteOne said in a statement yesterday.
The government also indicated the company will be given a "rollout period" to enable expansion of its local cutting and polishing facilities in Tanzania, TanzaniteOne said.
The rollout will be staggered to guarantee a consistent supply of gemstones and ensure no backlog of high value, uncut stones, it added, without elaborating on the period.
In April, this year, the government announced a ban of exportation of unprocessed Tanzanite in a bid to increase the contribution of the gemstone to the economy.
Energy and Minerals minister, William Ngeleja told the Parliament during discussion of the new mining bill that the government had gazetted the ban which is being processed by the government printer.
Ngeleja also said the government had since declared Mererani a controlled area and that it would soon be fenced to prohibit exportation of the gemstone illegally from the area.
"The only problem is lack of money for fencing the area," Ngeleja said.
He also said his ministry had taken into account the establishment of Independent Mining Tribunal and Mining Development Fund.
He said the government will use its institutions, the State Mining Corporation (Stamico) and the National Development Corporation in implementing mining activities.
"We shall collaborate with Stamico and NDC to implement this law," he said.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
My Take:
Chini ya sheria iliyopitishwa na bunge, serikali ilizuia usafirishwaji wa madini ya vito yenye uzito juu ya gramu moja bila kukatwa. Je, ni vigezo gani vimetumika kupindisha sheria hii?
Mpungwe asipozibitiwa atauza nchi kwa kuwasaliti watanzania ambao ndio wamiliki wa nyara hizo zinazoelekea kuisha bila serikali kufaidi chochote. TANZANITE ni kwa masilahi ya nani?
