The centre and educational museum for the rare gem has been made
possible by an Arusha-based tanzanite processing firm—The Tanzanite
Experience Limited.
Simbachawene said: “This is a value addition, and this turns
tanzanite into a unique tourist destination ... as government, we are
very committed to assist the private sector and investors who would
seriously invest into turning this precious stone into something
beneficial.”
He added that tanzanite gemstones are found only in Tanzania and
this is what Tanzanite Experience has seen as an opportunity and
utilized it very well.
“I pledge to assist them wherever the ministry can. There are many
people out there who want to see the source of this mineral, the process
it goes through and in turn it has become a tourist attraction.”
The Tanzanite Experience has invested in a life size replica of a
tanzanite mine shaft in one of its outlet at the center of Arusha city,
showing the history of tanzanite, how it is mined, the cutting and
polishing processes.
“This provides the opportunity for tourists who do not have the
opportunity to visit the real mines in Mererani to experience the
process as if they were actually at the mines,” commented Hasnain Sajan,
the Managing Director of the Tanzanite Experience.
Sajan said: “We have been receiving a good number of tourists who
want to learn how tanzanite is mined. When tourists come here and
experience the whole tour through the stone’s history, the mining
process, the experience of handling rough stones through to the cutting
and polishing and where they get to see the finished product, they leave
with an experience they never forget.”
He further suggested, schools to educate about this rare gem, to
come up with a scheme where locals should take interest to invest in
tanzanite as resources are very limited, expected to deplete in less
than half a century.
Firm’s sales manager, Theresia Kallaghe said: “Our interest is to
see that tourists understand tanzanite minerals from its genesis, mining
processes, its use and marketability. We do so because there are people
who brand it as originating from other countries when they are abroad,
something which is not true.”
She said that there are tourists who become surprised when they
hear that tanzanite minerals are only mined in Tanzania because they
were told that the minerals come from Kenya and South Africa.
Kallaghe said during the high season of tourism in Tanzania
(Between May and August) there are many tourists who visit the center
right after they come from the national parks and game reserves.
She also stressed that locals should take an interest in knowing
about the stone since it is a part of Tanzanian heritage, “it should not
only be foreign tourists who come to experience the gem and to buy it,
Tanzanians should celebrate their heritage by understanding the depths
of the stones mystery and also make it a point to buy it since soon
enough there will be no tanzanite left to buy.”
The launch of the outlet, which is the first ever concept store for
tanzanite was also witnessed by senior officials from the Tanzania
Minerals and Audit Agency (TMAA) including the Commissioner for
Minerals, Engineer Paul Masanja.
Tanzanite is the blue/violet variety of the mineral Zoisite (a
calcium hydroxyl Sorosilicate) belonging to the epidote group. It is
used as a gemstone, and naturally-formed tanzanite is extremely rare,
found only in one place in the world - Mererani, under the foothills of
the Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru—the second Tanzania’s tallest peak.
SOURCE:
THE GUARDIAN
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