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.