Synthetic blue gems jolt Tanzanite dealers
By Staff Reporter
Some manufactured blue gem-like material posing as Tanzanite, are reported to be
doing rounds in the local gemstone trade much to the disappointment and shock of
gemstone dealers.
Tanzanite dealers and brokers who met in Arusha last week resolved to
collaborate with law enforcers, in cracking down on culprits responsible for the
distribution of synthetic models of the blue gemstones, which as far as they are
concerned, is slowly, but surely killing both the Tanzanite value and industry.
This was agreed during a one-day meeting of members of the Arusha Regional
Miners Association (AREMA) held specifically to deliberate on how best the
dealers could curb the rampant widespread of the make-believe gemstones in the
country.
The chairman of AREMA, Khamis Lioba said that it was a high time for the
precious gem stakeholders to forge a closer cooperation with the state apparatus
in order to wipeout what they described to be intolerable economic sabotage.
Lioba proposed that drastic measures be taken against all unscrupulous dealers
of Tanzanite and other form of rare minerals, found to be involving themselves
in distributing synthetic materials.
"We as Tanzanite stakeholders must be in front line in this intolerable economic
sabotage …actually we should play significant role in cracking down this
business for the benefit of the entire industry" Lioba explained.
One of the Tanzanite stakeholders, Abdul Latif Suleiman pointed an accusing
finger to the local Tanzanite dealers and brokers, saying they were the ones
actually responsible to their own industry's mess.
"Bitter as it may sound, but the fact is we are all responsible, because some of
us are the major agents for the synthetic gemstones racket." lamented Suleiman.
He was on view that all Tanzanite dealers should be most vigilant with regard to
the harmful business and whenever come across with such culprits they must
report them to the relevant authority.
Another dealer, Jeremia Magezi challenged the state apparatus to launch thorough
investigation on the Synthetic Tanzanite business, which, he cautioned, if it
goes unchecked it might spoil completely the image for the blue coloured 'pieces
of eight!' and the lucrative business that goes with it.
The AREMA Secretary General Issaya Latema was suspicious that synthetic
Tanzanite might be the deliberate move by International gem dealers, who want to
tarnish the image of the most precious blue gemstones only found in Tanzania.
"This must be an Internationally driven syndicate, these synthetic material are
manufactured overseas, there' s no local laboratory that can churn out these
make-believe gems." Letema explained.
He also demanded that the government must take immediate measures against the
harmful trade if the negative implications on the country economy are to be
avoided.
According to Letema the so-called synthetic Tanzanite are currently choking up
the local gemstone market and are so far reported to be rampant in Dar-es-salaam,
Kilimanjaro, Manyara and Arusha regions.
The one day Tanzanite stakeholders meeting strongly condemned the synthetic
gemstone trade, calling upon all those who involved themselves in either
manufacturing or distributing these materials to stop immediately.
|
