According to The Guardian, the Tanzanian government has given the 52-year-old Saniniu Laizer a piece of gold worth up to $3.35 million to buy two unprecedented pieces of Tanzanite, each weighing 9.27 kg and 5.303 kg respectively.
The two purple-blue gemstones, each the size of a human forearm, were excavated by Mr. Laizer at one of the Tanzanite mines in the north of the country, surrounded by a wall controlling cross-border gemstone smuggling.
"Today's event takes place to hand over the two largest Tanzanite gemstones in history since the start of mining activities in Mirerani," a representative of the Ministry of Mines said at the ceremony.
Mr. Laizer attended the event live on television and President John Magufuli personally called to congratulate the miners. "This is evidence that our country Tanzania is rich," the president said.
"There will be a big party to celebrate," Laizer said, expressing his desire to build a shopping center and a school. "I want to build a school near my home. There are many poor people here who cannot afford to take their children to school. I am not going to school but I like to do everything in a professional way. I want my children to run a professional business in the future," he said.
Since last year, the Tanzanian government has opened gold and gemstone purchasing centers that anyone can find, even those who mine themselves without a unit.
Tanzanite - a type of stone commonly carved as jewelry - was found in 1967 on hills in northern Tan Tan Tan. What makes Tanzanite special and unique is that it is only found in one place in the world and the supply of this stone is limited.
