Tanzanian Mohamed Mnzava On The Onerous Effects Of Foreign Gem Dealers In Tanzania

Introduction:

In early August, Mr. Mnzava posted a comment on the Madison Dialogue List Serve: “Foreign gemstones dealers notably from USA and Europe, Far East undermine miners and governments in Africa.” His post was in response to Jim Fiebig’s work in Madagascar. Jim responds in subsequent posts.

This post is the second in a series of five consecutive posts covering the issue of artisanal gemstone mining from a macro perspective of two people in the field. In the next post, Jim responds to Mohamed. ~ Marc Choyt, Editor

THE MADISON DIALOGUE POST:

I am a Tanzanian/African Gemstones dealer/Exporter based in Tanzania.I have been a keen reader of your mail and contributions. I am very fascinated by the Topic Vol 11 Issue 1- 1. Madagascar embargo causes miners pain (Jim Fiebig)

It’s a contribution which presents a true nature of the way most foreign gemstones dealers, notably from the USA, Europe and the Far East undermine miners and governments in Africa.

Mr. Jim should ask himself:

~ How did the people he claims are in poverty live before he arrived in Madagascar?

~How much in money, knowledge and material worth has he supported the miners?

~How much richer has he been since he arrived in Madagascar?

~How many Africans has he supported to penetrate the USA and other export markets?

~How much does he relatively pay for the gemstones?

There are many questions to ask.

Mr. Jim and many answers will be obvious that there is more to lose from the foreign buyers than gain. I have not seen anywhere in Mr. Jim’s letter where he has directly mentioned or blamed whoever did illegally export the Emerald crystal in question.

In Africa we do blame the Thorn before we blame the affected…. I ask him to personally respond to me so that I can give him more data and references of the way foreign Gemstones traders rob the African.

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