ARUSHA, Tanzania, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian President John Magufuli on Wednesday directed the country's army to build a perimeter wall around tanzanite mine site in northern part of the east African nation to control theft and smuggling of the precious gemstones.
The Tanzanian leader made the directive when speaking at the inauguration of a 26km road linking the mine site and Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA).
He directed the Tanzania People's Defence Force (TPDF) and the income generating arm of the national service (SUMA-JKT) to build a 13-square-kilometer fence surrounding tanzanite mining area in Mirerani area, Simanjiro District in Manyara Region.
"Construction work should start immediately, we have to protect our natural resources so that it benefit all Tanzanians," said Magufuli.
The Tanzanian President also suggested the need for the wall to be installed with electrical wire and fixed with surveillance cameras on its four corners, and have single entrance gate. The move, according to him, will monitor all suspicious activities within the site's block A and D, areas believed to house a huge amount of the minerals.
The president's move is aimed at controlling all tanzanite minerals explored in the area, as for years Tanzania has been losing millions of foreign currencies due to smuggling.
"I suggest that the gate should be installed with a modern detector machine that can spotlight any hidden substance," he said.
The mining site is jointly owned and managed by a private firm Sky Associates Limited and the State Mining Corporation (STAMICO), a wholly-owned government enterprise under the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, each commanding a 50-percent share in the gemstones' exploration in the area.
President Magufuli also ordered a review of all Tanzanite mine contracts that would enable an increase in the government's royalty hence speed up country's socio-economic development.
According to President Magufuli, from now on all tanzanite sales would be conducted at the mining site (Mererani).
"I want to see buyers come directly here in Mererani to buy the gemstone...this will make the government have the record on the exported minerals," he said.
Tanzanite is only found in Tanzania, in the Mererani Hills of the Manyara Region in the north of the country. Tanzanite is mined from a single source in an area that is 2-kilometer wide and 4-kilometer long and divided into 4 blocks (A, B, C, and D) near Mount Kilimanjaro.
