Summary
Public urges government to sustain mining awareness campaigns
DAR ES SALAAM: Tanzania’s globally acclaimed Tanzanite gemstone has become one of the biggest crowd-pullers at the 50th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF), popularly known as Sabasaba, attracting hundreds of visitors to the Mining Commission pavilion to witness the country’s rare gemstone and explore investment opportunities in the mining sector.
Held under the theme “Pride of Tanzania,” this year’s exhibition, which officially opened on June 28, will run until July 13, 2026, marking the golden jubilee of the country’s premier international trade fair.
The Mining Commission’s pavilion has drawn large numbers of visitors eager to learn about Tanzania’s rich mineral resources, with Tanzanite taking centre stage due to its rarity and global significance.
The exhibition also offers educational sessions highlighting the country’s diverse mineral wealth and the economic opportunities available across the mining value chain.
Visitor Nuru Maliki described the exhibition as an eye-opening experience, saying it gave her the rare opportunity to see various minerals that she had previously only read or heard about.
“I received excellent service and had the chance to see different minerals, especially Tanzanite and other precious gemstones found in Tanzania. Some of these minerals I had only heard about before, but today I have seen them with my own eyes,”she said.
Another visitor, Eveline Natai, said the exhibition had expanded her understanding of the mining sector and inspired her to consider investing in the industry.
“I am pleased to have learned about the different minerals and the investment opportunities available. I intend to explore opportunities in this sector, and I encourage the government to continue educating Tanzanians so that more people can benefit from our country’s mineral wealth,” she said.
Geologist Abbas Mruma from the Resident Mines Office in Njombe said the exhibition has become an important platform for educating the public on Tanzania’s mineral resources, their economic value and the investment opportunities available in the sector.
Meanwhile, Senior Geologist Seleman Khamis from the Resident Mines Office in Mirerani explained that the value of Tanzanite is determined by four internationally recognised factors: colour, carat weight, clarity and cut.
He noted that the gemstone’s distinctive blue and violet hues make it highly sought after in global markets, adding that Tanzanite is found exclusively in Mirerani, Simanjiro District in Manyara Region—making it one of the world’s rarest and most valuable gemstones.
The remarkable public interest witnessed at this year’s Sabasaba exhibition underscores Tanzania’s growing reputation as a leading producer of high-value gemstones while highlighting the increasing public appetite for knowledge about mining, investment opportunities and the sector’s contribution to the national economy.
The Mining Commission pavilion also received several high-profile visitors, including Stephen Wasira, Vice-Chairperson of Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) for Mainland Tanzania, and Dr Venance Mwasse, Chief Executive Officer of the State Mining Corporation (STAMICO).
The leaders commended the Commission for its continued efforts to promote public awareness of the mining sector, saying the initiative has enhanced understanding of the industry’s vast potential and its critical role in driving Tanzania’s economic development.
