The mining licences of 470 Tanzanite miners at Mererani have been temporarily revoked over accumulated fees they were supposed to pay to the government.
Manyara Regional Mining Officer Fabian Mshai said the 470 tanzanite miners owe the government fees amounting to Sh. 700 million.
He revealed this at the Mererani mining town in Simanjiro District, Manyara Region when he was speaking to stakeholders in gemstone mining. According to Mr Mshai, the 470 tanzanite miners have 30 days to settle monies owed to his office, short of which they would not be allowed into the mining sites.
Should they fail to pay the money, they would be taken to court under the new mining laws and their amendments.
He directed those still interested in the business to go to his office to verify their licences and payment receipts. He warned that the time for fiddling with overpayment fees was over and that what those affected should do is to pay forthwith.
When contacted on the issue, one of the small-scale miners at Block B, Ms Mwanaidi Kimu, said many were facing financial hardships.
“Some of us simply don’t have money to run our mines,” she said during a meeting, calling for a reprieve on the outstanding fees.
It would not be established as how many small-scale miners were at the famous mines located near the Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA)
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