Govt plans reforms to boost Tanzanite trade to curb smuggling

Dodoma. The Ministry of Minerals plans to table an ambitious blueprint before Parliament designed to overhaul the extraction, regulation, value addition, and trade of Tanzanite, seeking to shield the nation’s exclusive gemstone from illicit trade and rising global headwinds.

Presenting the comprehensive strategy on October, 13 2026 to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy and Minerals, the minister for Minerals, Anthony Mavunde, outlined the pressures currently impacting the international Tanzanite market.

Among the primary obstacles facing the sector are illicit traders bypassing regulatory frameworks, declining yields from existing mining operations, persistent cross-border smuggling, and mounting market pressure from lab-grown synthetic alternatives.

To counteract these vulnerabilities, Mavunde confirmed that the government is instituting rigorous reforms across both domestic and international trading channels.

Central to the strategy is the completion of the dedicated Tanzanite Exchange Centre, the establishment of an institutionalised auctioning system, and a strict mandate to enforce local value addition before any rough stones leave the country.

"Our goal is to ensure indigenous miners and local lapidaries secure competitive prices that reflect true global market value," Mavunde stated.

"We will achieve fair pricing through robust, transparent, and confidential valuation frameworks."

A key element of the plan includes expanding deep-level geological mapping beyond the secure perimeter wall at Mirerani, the world’s sole known source of the blue-violet gemstone, to identify prospective reserves and extend operational viability for artisanal and commercial miners alike.

In response to the submission, the chairwoman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee, Subira Mgalu, commended the ministry’s proactive stance while urging the government to intensify deliberate global marketing campaigns to reinforce Tanzanite's prestige on the international stage.

The committee also praised the ministry of Minerals for surpassing its revenue collection benchmarks for the First Quarter of the 2026/2027 financial year, citing improved operational discipline and compliance efforts across the mining supply chain.