MP wants tanzanite declared government trophy

Dodoma. Mtwara Urban MP Maftah Nachuma (CUF) has asked the government to declare tanzanite as a national trophy as a way of controlling its smuggling. 

Mr Nachuma who was contributing to the debate of the Ministry of Minerals on Thursday said the mineral was rampantly available in many countries despite the fact that it was only available in Tanzania. 

"This is a result of smuggling and I suggest to declare tanzanite a government trophy," said Mr Nachuma. 

He also asked the government to make sure that all minerals are processed in the country to create jobs. 

"In India, tanzanite processing has created almost 600 jobs which were supposed to be held by Tanzanians," he added.

Mr Nachuma also wanted to know why the government was not dissolving State Mining Corporation (Stamico) which he said was making losses.