The Tanzanian parliament has instituted yet another investigation into how much revenue tanzanite, a unique gemstone only found in the country, contributes to the coffers. National Assembly Speaker Job Ndugai has formed a special committee of nine MPs to scrutinise tanzanite mining contracts and exports. “The team led by the chairman of the parliamentary Committee for energy and minerals Doto Biteko, has been tasked to look broadly at the tanzanite business, including contracts signed between state enterprises and private firms,” Mr Ndugai told The EastAfrican.
Terms of reference He said their terms of reference include establishing miners and dealers were paying government taxes considering trade in tanzanite earns very little revenue for the Government. Tanzanite is a popular blue gemstone of the zoisite family that is only found and produced commercially in one small area of northern Tanzania. “We want them to propose a way forward because it appears everyone in the sector — miners and dealers on the one hand and government on the other — is complaining,” said Mr Ndugai.
