Laizer found one of the world's rarest stones, Tanzanite. He plans to use the money from the sale of the stone to build a school.
Friday, June 26, 2020
UPDATimes - A small miner in Tanzania became a billionaire overnight after selling two of Tanzania's rare stones - the largest ever found in the country.
Saniniu Laizer received £ 2.4 million from the country's mining ministry for the two precious stones, which have a combined weight of 15 kg.
"Tomorrow there will be a big party," Laizer, father of more than 30 children, told the UPDATimes
Tanzanite is only found in northern Tanzania and is used to make ornaments.
This is one of the rarest gemstones on Earth, and a local geologist estimates that its supply may be exhausted within the next 20 years.
The appeal of precious stones lies in the variety of colors, including green, red, purple and blue.
The value is determined by scarcity - the finer the color or the clarity, the higher the price.
Laizer mined the stone, weighing 9.2kg and 5.8kg last week, but he sold it last Wednesday at a trade event in the northern region of Manyara.
Previously, the largest Tanzanite which was mined weighed 3.3 kg.
President John Magufuli called to congratulate Laizer on his discovery.
"This is the advantage of small-scale miners and this proves that Tanzania is rich," the president said.
Magufuli came to power in 2015 and promised to protect the interests of the nation in the mining sector and increase government revenue from that sector.
Tanzanite is one of the rarest gemstones on earth. A local geologist estimates that the supply may be exhausted within the next 20 years.
The appeal of precious stones lies in the variety of colors namely green, red, purple, and blue. Its value is determined based on scarcity. The finer the color or clarity, the higher the price. The two precious stones weigh respectively 9.2 kg and 5.8 kg.
President John Magufuli called Laizer and congratulated him. The president was grateful because Laizer proved that Tanzania was a rich country.
Earlier in 2017, President Magufuli ordered the military to build a 24 km (14 mile) wall around the Merelani mining site in Manyara, believed to be the only Tanzanite source in the world. A year later, the government reported an increase in revenue in the mining sector and attributed the increase to the construction of the wall.
"This is the benefit of small scale miners and this proves that Tanzania is rich," Magufuli said.
Magufuli promised to protect the country's interests in the mining sector and increase government revenue from the sector. Magufuli himself has served as President of Tanzania since 2015.
Laizer Profile
Laizer, 52, is of course very lucky. As a miner, he has four wives. From his marriage he was blessed with 30 children.
He said he would cut one of his cows to celebrate. He also plans to invest in his community in Simanjiro District, Manyara.
"I want to build a shopping center and a school. I want to build a school near home. There are many poor people who are unable to bring their children to school, "Laizer said.
"I am not educated but I want my children to run the business professionally," he said.
He said the windfall will not change his lifestyle. He plans to continue to look after his 2 thousand cows. "This country is quite safe. There will be no problem, "he said.
What did the new billionaire say?
Laizer, 52, who has four wives, said he would cut one of his cows to celebrate.
He also plans to invest in his community in the Simanjiro district in Manyara.
"I want to build a shopping center and a school. I want to build this school near my house. There are many poor people here who are unable to bring their children to school."
"I am not educated but I like things to run professionally. So I want my children to run the business professionally.".
He said the fortune would not change his lifestyle, and that he planned to continue to take care of his 2,000 cows.
He said he did not need to take special security measures related to his new wealth.
"There are enough security forces here. There will be no problems. I can even walk around at night without problems."
Some small-scale miners such as Laizer have obtained government permission to dig up Tanzanite, but illegal mining is still large, especially near mines owned by large companies.
In 2017, President Magufuli ordered the military to build a 24 km wall around the Merelani mining site in Manyara, which is believed to be the only source of Tanzanite in the world.
A year later, the government reported an increase in revenue in the mining sector and attributed the increase to the construction of the wall, the BBC's Sammy Awami reports in the Dar es Salaam report
.
0 Comments