Tanzanian hand-miner becomes millionaire

A Tanzanian hand-miner became an instant millionaire after selling the two of the largest-tanzanite gems ever discovered to the government.

The East African nation’s central bank paid Saniniu Laizer 7.7 billion shillings ($3.3 million) for the stones, which weighed 9.2 kg and 5.8 kg. Laizer received the payment at an award ceremony in the northeastern Manyara region and broadcast on national television on Wednesday.

President John Magufuli said the purchase from Laizer was vindication of mining reforms that the government has implemented since he came to power in 2015. The changes include the introduction of centres where small-scale miners can trade their finds.

Tanzania is the world’s only source of tanzanite, a blue-purple gem that’s found at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Faced with surplus production of personal protective equipment (PPE) kits, apparel exporters have asked the government to permit exports of the much sough after kits. Some competitors of Indian apparel exporters have already started tapping the $60 billion global PPE market.

In less than four months, the apparel industry has scaled up the production of PPE kits from zero to 8 lakh units per day. There are over 500 units that manufacture PPE kits.

“The industry has demonstrated extraordinary enterprise and nimbleness through its ability to rejig large production facilities to manufacture PPEs by re-purposing their production lines amidst a nationwide lockdown that disrupted material, labour and supply chains,” Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) chairman A. Sakthivel said.

According to him, the government used to procure 4 to 4.5 lakh units a day earlier. Now, its procurement has come down and the industry has surplus quantity of around 5 lakh units per day. Hence the industry has asked the government to lift the ban on exports of PPE kits, which was enforced when there was scarcity.

The industry says it can play a key role in the global market of PPEs, which is estimated to be more than $60 billion over the next five years.

The apparel exporters have already shipped Rs 750-800 crore worth nonsurgical masks.

“Countries like Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan and others have lifted the ban on PPE exports and are receiving huge orders. We are afraid of losing export opportunities to our competing countries,’ he said.

Pakistan received $100 million export orders last week.