Tanzanian Miner’s Latest Rare Find
Tanzania: A Tanzanian miner who previously made the news after discovering two large Tanzanite stones has sold a third one for the equivalent of 2 million US dollars. Saniniu Laizer's latest find weighed over 6 kilogrammes.
Saniniu Laizer earned £2.4m ($3.4m) from the country's mining ministry for the gemstones, which had a combined weight of 15kg (33 lb).
Mr Laizer is keen to use the proceeds from his discoveries to help local people:
"With the money we are getting, we will give back to our community. I personally have set up two schools for children with the money I received from mining."
Small-scale miners like Mr Laizer operate under licences acquired from the government, but illegal mining of the mineral is an issue, especially close to major mining operations.
Mr Laizer says he will not change his lifestyle, but that he does intend to slaughter one of the cows from his herd of 2,000 to celebrate.
Tanzanite is only found in northern Tanzania and is used to make ornaments. It is one of the rarest gemstones on Earth, and one local geologist estimates its supply may be entirely depleted within the next 20 years. The precious stone's appeal lies in its variety of hues, including green, red, purple and blue. Its value is determined by rarity - the finer the colour or clarity, the higher the price.
President, John Magufuli phoned in to congratulate Mr Laizer on the find.
Mr Magufuli came to power in 2015 promising to safeguard the nation's interest in the mining sector and increase the government's revenue from it.
Mr Laizer, 52, who has four wives, said he would slaughter one of his cows to celebrate.
He also plans to invest in his community in Simanjiro district in Manyara.
"I want to build a shopping mall and a school. I want to build this school near my home. There are many poor people around here who can't afford to take their children to school."
"I am not educated but I like things run in a professional way. So I would like my children to run the business professionally."
In 2017, President Magufuli ordered the military to build a 24km (14-mile) perimeter wall around the Merelani mining site in Manyara, believed to be the world's only source of Tanzanite.
A year later, the government reported an increase in revenue in the mining sector and attributed the rise to the construction of the wall.
