AfricaPress-Tanzania: ANNUAL government revenues from tanzanite gemstones have risen from 238m/- in 2016 to 1.417bn/- last year, thanks to a perimeter wall erected around the mining fields of Mirerani in Simanjiro District, Manyara Regio
Prof Simon Msanjila, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Minerals, made this observation in a briefing on a report on the Mirerani reserve area to members of the Energy and Minerals Committee of the National Assembly in the capital at midweek.
The fence has nearly stopped minerals smuggling denying the government much needed revenue, while security was enhanced for people conducting gemstone trading, he said, noting that administration was simplified and child labour prohibited in the mine pits.
The One-Stop-Centre built inside the mining complex was operating, already named as the Magufuli Tanzanite Center, which involves the immigration Department, National Intelligence Services, Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA), the police force, a conference hall and offices for other agencies.
There are also remand cells, a minerals verification unit, bank agencies, round coverage CCTV cameras and a gemstone storage facility.
Projects being implemented in the area include ring road construction inside the wall, two inspection rooms and rest rooms for minerals sector officials and stakeholders, along with a gemstone market centre, he stated.
The Katente Demonstration Centre for small miners in Geita Region had enabled the realization of 11,588.37 grams of gold from 39 small miners, he said, noting that the centre has enabled the collection of 104m/- in royalties and inspection fees for Bukombe and Geita districts, and obtained 72.5m/- for services to the small miners.
Acting Executive Secretary of Tanzania Commission for Mines Yahya Samamba said in a presentation on the Geita main minerals market of vast increases in business activity in the market, since its establishment in March 2019, from an average of 160 kgs of gold per month to 450 kgs.
“Since the introduction of the market system the highest production capacity of gold production is 537.6 kgs in one month, in October 2019 and the lowest was 167.7 kgs in April 2019,” he said.
Following the tabling of the report, member of the committee were expected to visit several projects implemented by the ministry and its institutions, officials noted.
n in 2018.
