Tanzanite Mining and Trading Rules in Tanzania: Who May Mine at Mirerani, Where Stones Are Sold, What Is Paid and How Cut Tanzanite Leaves the Country
What are the rules for tanzanite mining and trading in Tanzania? Tanzanite is mined only inside the walled Mirerani Controlled Area. A gemstone mining licence goes only to Tanzanians, unless the Minister allows up to 50% foreign participation. Stones are sold through Mining Commission markets to licensed brokers and dealers. Rough stones pay 6% royalty, cut stones 1%, plus a 1% inspection fee. Every export needs a permit and a certificate of origin.
Tanzanite mining in Tanzania runs under the Mining Act, Cap. 123, regulations written for the Mirerani hills and the general mineral trading rules. This guide follows a stone from the pit to export, with a costed parcel.
What the law says about tanzanite mining and trading
No single tanzanite statute exists. Five instruments cover the stages between the pit and the airport.
- The Mining Act, Cap. 123. We read the Mining Act on TanzLII, in the text revised to 30 November 2019. It sets who may mine, possess and sell minerals, and the royalty and inspection fee. Section 2 applies it to Tanzania Mainland.
- The controlled area power. Section 5A lets the President declare any area subject to mining operations a controlled area by Order in the Gazette. The Order sets the conditions, and breaching them is an offence.
- The Mirerani regulations. The Mining (Mirerani Controlled Area) Regulations, 2019, GN 135 of 2019, were published on 8 February 2019. They govern the wall, the gate, identity cards, visitors and searches.
- The trading regulations. The Mining (Minerals and Mineral Concentrates Trading) Regulations, 2018, GN 2 of 2018, govern dealers, export permits, valuation and the tanzanite certificate of origin. We read a copy of GN 2 of 2018 hosted by FB Attorneys.
- The value addition rules. The Mining (Lapidary) Regulations, 2020, license cutting and polishing. The Mining (Value Addition) Regulations, 2020, GN 687 of 2020, sit beside them. We could not read the text of GN 687.
A note on numbering. The Act was reissued as Chapter 123 R.E. 2023. We could not read that edition, so we cite the 2019 section numbers. Zatra's fee register gives the R.E. 2023 numbers for royalty (section 111, formerly 87) and the inspection fee (section 115, formerly 90A).
Who should read this
- Primary mining licence holders at Mirerani who sell rough tanzanite from Blocks B and D.
- Brokers and dealers who buy at the Mirerani market and sell on or export.
- Foreign gem companies weighing a dealer licence, a lapidary licence or a joint venture with a Tanzanian miner.
- Cutters and jewellers in Arusha and Mirerani who buy rough and sell cut stones.
See our guides to the primary mining licence, the mineral broker licence and the mineral dealer licence.
What is the Mirerani Controlled Area?
Mirerani, also spelt Mererani or Merelani, is in Simanjiro District, Manyara Region. The US Geological Survey's 2019 minerals yearbook calls it the world's only source of tanzanite. Small-scale miners work Blocks B and D, and a licensed company mines Block C.
GN 135 of 2019 replaced the Merelani (Controlled Area) Regulations, GN 450 of 2002. TanzLII lists later amendments, including GN 592 of 2021, whose text we could not read.
The EastAfrican reported on 6 April 2018 that the military built a wall of about 24 kilometres around the mines on President Magufuli's order.
GN 135 of 2019 gives the wall legal force. Its main rules:
| Rule | Regulation | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| The area | reg. 6(1) | The whole area set by the declaring order published in the Gazette |
| Wall and gate | reg. 6(2) to (4) | A wall encloses the area; everyone enters and leaves through the main gate |
| No mining near the wall | reg. 11 | No surface or underground mining within 200 metres of the wall |
| Identity cards | reg. 15 | Holders, employees, agents and contractors need a card to enter, stay or work |
| Visitors | reg. 16 | A visitor's pass from the Resident Mines Officer, valid from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm |
| Vehicles | reg. 18(3) and (4) | Prior permission from the Resident Mines Officer |
| Searches | reg. 19 | People and vehicles may be searched on entry and exit for minerals held without a permit |
| Contributions and fees | reg. 22 | The Commission sets contributions from holders and entry fees from traders and visitors |
GN 135 does not give the declaring order's GN number, and we could not find it. Treat it as unknown.
Who may hold a tanzanite mining licence?
Mining tanzanite is close to fully reserved for Tanzanians. Three provisions of section 8 of the 2019 text decide the point.
- Primary mining licence. Section 8(2) bars a primary mining licence to an individual who is not a citizen. Zatra's fee register marks the licence as not available to foreigners (F0619, F0620).
- Gemstone mining licence. Section 8(5) says "A mining licence for mining gemstones shall only be granted to applicants who are Tanzanians."
- The ministerial exception. Section 8(6) lets the Minister, after consulting the Commission, grant a gemstone mining licence to an applicant with non-citizen participation. The non-citizen share may not exceed 50% in total.
From the register at 26 September 2026: a primary mining licence costs TZS 50,000 to apply and TZS 100,000 to renew (F0619). Rent for gemstones is TZS 90,000 a hectare, minimum TZS 180,000 (F0620).
A foreign investor therefore has two lawful routes to production: a ministerial grant under section 8(6), or trading through a dealer company. Holding a pit through a Tanzanian nominee is neither, and it puts the stones and the licence at risk. Boundary fights are common in dense fields; see our guide to overlapping mineral claims.
Where must tanzanite be sold?
The general rule covers every mineral. Section 27C(2) of the 2019 text says a person who wishes to buy or dispose of minerals "shall buy or dispose minerals at the Mineral and Gem Houses". Where no House exists, section 27C(4) tells the Commission to set up buying stations and license brokers for them. Section 27C(3) lets mining licence holders sell output from their own licence area at any market of choice.
For tanzanite, the market is at Mirerani. Reports trace the policy:
- Government position. Mwananchi reported on 18 August 2024 that Minister Anthony Mavunde said tanzanite trade and value addition will stay in Mirerani., and that this is set by regulation; HabariLeo reported the same on 20 August 2024.
- The Tanzanite Exchange Centre. Michuzi Blog reported on 8 June 2026 on two auctions held there in May 2026. Brokers bought TZS 271,270,100 of stones on 15 May, with 84 participants. Dealers bought TZS 721,750,000 on 21 May.
- October 2026 strategy. On 13 October 2026, Michuzi Blog reported that the Minister presented a tanzanite strategy to the parliamentary committee on energy and minerals. It includes completing the Exchange Centre and a formal auction system so that stones are value-added in Tanzania rather than exported raw.
We could not identify which regulation fixes Mirerani as the only place to trade tanzanite. The safe course is to buy only at the Mirerani market or from a licensed holder, with a Commission receipt for each parcel. Our guide to mineral markets in Tanzania explains how a market sale works.
Which licence do you need to buy, sell or broker tanzanite?
Section 18(1) of the 2019 text lets only a mineral right holder, a licensed dealer, a licensed broker or a Minerals Import Permit holder possess or dispose of minerals. Their employees, agents and contractors are covered when acting for them.
| Role | What it allows | Open to foreigners? | Government fee | Register ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary mining licence | Mine and sell own output | No (s.8(2)) | Application TZS 50,000; rent TZS 90,000 a hectare for gemstones | F0619, F0620 |
| Broker licence | Buy gold or gemstones at a designated buying station and sell to dealers; no export (s.83) | No: Tanzanians aged 18 or over and local companies | Application TZS 50,000; licence TZS 200,000 | F0623 |
| Dealer licence, coloured gemstones | Buy, sell and export the minerals named in the licence | Yes, with at least 25% qualified Tanzanian participation (s.73(3)) | Application USD 200; licence USD 1,000; renewal application USD 100 | F0622 |
| Lapidary licence | Cut, polish, engrave or heat-treat gemstones | Small licence: Tanzanians only; large licence: open | Not in our register; see the lapidary section | None |
The dealer licence is the usual entry point for a foreign-owned company. Section 73(3) lets a person not qualified under section 8 hold a dealer licence only jointly with qualified persons holding not less than 25%. The register states the same rule (F0622). Under section 75(1), a dealer licence is valid for at most twelve months from issue and expires on 30 June each year.
A gold dealer licence does not cover tanzanite; see our comparison of gemstone, diamond and gold trading.
A dealer keeps a minerals register for each variety and files a certified monthly copy by the third day of the next month (GN 2 of 2018, reg. 10).
What royalty and fees apply to rough and cut tanzanite?
The Act draws a line between gemstones and gems. Section 4 of the 2019 text defines gems as gemstones that are cut and polished or engraved. Section 87(1) then sets royalty at 6% for gemstones and 1% for gems. The rates below are from Zatra's fee register at 26 September 2026, as in our mineral royalty and inspection fee guide.
| Charge | Rough tanzanite | Cut and polished tanzanite | Register ID | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royalty | 6% of gross value | 1% of gross value | F0624 | s.111(1) R.E. 2023 (s.87(1)(b) and (d), 2019 text) |
| Inspection fee | 1% of gross value | 1% of gross value | F0625 | s.115 R.E. 2023 (s.90A, 2019 text) |
| HIV Response Levy | 0.1% of gross value | 0.1% of gross value | F0626 | s.113A, from 1 July 2025 |
| NEMC fee, other gemstones | 0.4% of gross value at point of sale | Not stated | NEW-05-04 | GN 387 of 2021 as amended by GN 588 of 2024 |
| Withholding tax on purchases from primary licence holders | 2%, final for individual primary licence holders | Not applicable | F0224, F0629 | Income Tax Act Cap. 332 s.106(1)(e) |
| Export permit application | USD 100 | USD 100 | F0628 | GN 2 of 2018 as amended by GN 235 of 2019 |
Who pays depends on who holds the stones. Where a miner sells to a dealer or broker, the 2019 text places the royalty on the buyer. A dealer then makes a "payment in lieu of royalty" under section 88 when it exports or sells on. Section 88(1)(c) names gemstones sold to an authorised lapidary or jewellery maker in Tanzania as one such sale.
One point is unsettled: how royalty and inspection fee paid on rough are credited when the same stones leave as cut gems. On 4 October 2026 the Minister ordered a review of double charging; no rate has changed yet.
The 20% gold set-aside under GN 539C of 2024 does not reach tanzanite. Regulation 3(6) of that notice speaks of "won or obtained gold", and the Bank of Tanzania programme buys gold only. Mwananchi reported on 13 September 2025 that small tanzanite brokers were asking for a 20% share of output by regulation. That request confirms no such rule exists for tanzanite.
Can rough tanzanite be exported?
Here is what we could verify.
- Who may export. Section 18(3) of the 2019 text allows only a mineral right holder or a licensed dealer to export, after paying royalty and the inspection fee. Brokers may not export (s.83(2)).
- Certificate of origin. Regulation 18(1) of GN 2 of 2018 says "Every export permit for tanzanite minerals shall be accompanied by a certificate of origin". An authorised officer issues it. Under regulation 18(3), customs or TRA officers may confiscate tanzanite exported without one.
- Tourists and visitors. A non-resident may export on a special permit, at most twice a year (reg. 16). The register gives USD 2,000 for a non-resident and USD 250 for a tourist (NEW-06-17).
On a weight limit for rough stones, the record is thin. India's Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council reported on 21 February 2019 that Mining (Mineral Value Addition) Guidelines, 2019, allowed rough gemstones of up to two grams to be exported. It said the earlier limit was under one gram. GN 2 of 2018 contains no weight limit, and we could not read GN 687 of 2020.
In practice rough does leave. Mwananchi reported on 15 August 2025 that most rough stones are exported uncut, largely for cutting in India and Kenya. It cited Bank of Tanzania data of USD 19.2 million in 2024 exports.
So the current weight rule for rough tanzanite is unknown in this guide. Ask the Resident Mines Officer in writing before you contract to ship any rough parcel. Our mineral export permit guide covers the permit procedure and customs clearance.
Do you need a licence to cut and polish tanzanite?
Yes. Cutting, polishing and heat treatment are licensed activities. Clyde & Co reported on 7 August 2020 on the Mining (Lapidary) Regulations, 2020, which it cited as GN 485 of 2020. Its summary gives two licence types.
- Small Lapidary Licence: for Tanzanians only, with at least three lapidary machines, valid twelve months to 30 June, at a fee of TZS 50,000.
- Large Lapidary Licence: open to Tanzanians and foreigners, with ten machines for Tanzanians or thirty for foreigners, valid five years, at USD 1,000 a year.
- Enforcement: the Commission may forfeit gemstones and machines used without a licence. Fines reach TZS 50 million or 12 months in prison for individuals and TZS 100 million for companies.
The regulations were amended by the Mining (Lapidary) (Amendment) Regulations, 2022, GN 420 of 2022. We could not read either text, and lapidary fees are not yet in Zatra's register. Treat the figures above as Clyde & Co's 2020 summary, to be confirmed with the Commission.
The royalty table rewards local cutting: 1% on cut gems against 6% on rough. A cutting plant may also need a processing licence (F0631); see our mineral processing licence guide.
Is there a Kimberley Process certificate for tanzanite?
No. The Kimberley Process certifies rough diamonds only. Tanzania's Kimberley Process annual report for 2022, dated April 2023, places its KP office inside the Mining Commission. It names the Mining (Diamond Trading) Regulations, 2019, as the operating instrument.
For tanzanite, the equivalent paper is the certificate of origin under regulation 18 of GN 2 of 2018. A gemmological report or private provenance record is a commercial document and does not replace it.
What are the penalties for holding tanzanite without a licence?
Penalties come from the Act (2019 text) and two sets of regulations.
| Conduct | Provision | Penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Possessing or disposing of minerals without a licence | Mining Act s.18(1) and (4) | Individual: fine TZS 5m to 10m, or 1 to 3 years in prison, or both. Body corporate: fine TZS 20m to 50m |
| Breaching the conditions of a controlled area order | Mining Act s.5A(2) | An offence; the punishment is set elsewhere |
| Entering or leaving Mirerani other than through the gate | GN 135 of 2019 reg. 18(2) | Fine not less than TZS 3m, or up to 6 months in prison, or both |
| Being in the area without an identity card | GN 135 of 2019 reg. 15(4) | Fine not less than TZS 50,000 |
| Exporting tanzanite without a certificate of origin | GN 2 of 2018 reg. 18(3) | Stones liable to confiscation |
| Dealer's minerals register not kept or filed | GN 2 of 2018 reg. 10(5) | Fine up to TZS 10m, or up to 6 months in prison |
A conviction also bars a later dealer licence under section 74(1)(b) of the 2019 text.
If stones are seized at the gate, at an airport or in a search, do not negotiate informally. Seizures, prosecutions and forfeiture challenges belong with an advocate from the first day.
Does the Mining Act apply to tanzanite in Zanzibar?
No. Section 2 limits the Mining Act to Tanzania Mainland. The controlled area, the licences, the royalty rates and the export permit are Mainland instruments. Tanzanite itself comes only from Mirerani on the Mainland, so the question in Zanzibar is about trading, not mining.
| Point | Mainland Tanzania | Zanzibar |
|---|---|---|
| Mining law | Mining Act, Cap. 123 | Separate Zanzibar law; enactment of a mining law not confirmed |
| Source of tanzanite | Mirerani Controlled Area | None |
| Trading and export licences | Mining Commission | Not confirmed |
| Royalty and inspection fee | 6% rough, 1% cut, 1% inspection fee (F0624, F0625) | Unknown |
| Customs declaration | TRA, TANCIS | TRA, TANCIS |
The Citizen reported on 28 November 2024 that Zanzibar was preparing its own mining law. We could not confirm that it was enacted. A Zanzibar jeweller selling cut tanzanite should confirm its licensing with Zanzibar authorities. Stones remain under Mainland rules until they lawfully leave the Mainland chain.
Worked example: a dealer buys rough tanzanite at Mirerani and exports cut stones
This example is hypothetical. A Dar es Salaam company holds a coloured gemstone dealer licence. Tanzanian citizens own 30% and a foreign partner 70%, which meets section 73(3). It buys a 400 gram parcel of rough tanzanite from a primary licence holder at the Mirerani market. A licensed lapidary cuts them, and the dealer exports by air.
Assumptions, drawn from trade figures Mwananchi reported in August 2025: rough at TZS 250,000 a gram, so TZS 100,000,000 gross. Yield of 2 carats a gram, so 800 carats. Cut stones at USD 300 a carat, so USD 240,000. We use TZS 2,450 to the dollar for illustration; the rate on the control number governs.
| Stage and charge | Register ID | Calculation | USD | TZS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purchase: royalty on rough | F0624 | 6% x TZS 100,000,000 | n/a | 6,000,000 |
| Purchase: inspection fee | F0625 | 1% x TZS 100,000,000 | n/a | 1,000,000 |
| Purchase: HIV Response Levy | F0626 | 0.1% x TZS 100,000,000 | n/a | 100,000 |
| Purchase: Commission charges | n/a | 7.1% of gross value | n/a | 7,100,000 |
| Export: permit application | F0628 | Flat fee | 100 | 245,000 |
| Export: royalty on cut gems, if assessed | F0624 | 1% x USD 240,000 | 2,400 | 5,880,000 |
| Export: inspection fee, if assessed | F0625 | 1% x USD 240,000 | 2,400 | 5,880,000 |
| Export: HIV Response Levy | F0626 | 0.1% x USD 240,000 | 240 | 588,000 |
| Export charges | n/a | Sum of export lines | 5,140 | 12,593,000 |
| Dealer licence, first year | F0622 | USD 200 application plus USD 1,000 licence | 1,200 | 2,940,000 |
- Total on the stones: TZS 7,100,000 at purchase plus TZS 12,593,000 at export, or TZS 19,693,000. That is about 3.3% of the TZS 588,000,000 export value.
- Withholding tax: the dealer withholds 2% of the price, TZS 2,000,000, from the miner and remits it to TRA (F0224). It is a final tax for an individual primary licence holder, not an extra cost to the dealer.
- Possible extras: the NEMC fee of 0.4% on the rough, TZS 400,000, if collected at the market (NEW-05-04).
- The open question: if the Commission credits the royalty paid on rough, the export royalty line may fall away. Get its assessment in writing before you price the sale.
What to do now
- Fix your role. Match a licence to each activity: mining, broking, dealing, cutting or export.
- Check ownership. A dealer company with foreign shareholders needs at least 25% qualified Tanzanian participation and the coloured gemstone class.
- Arrange Mirerani access. Obtain identity cards for staff and vehicle permission from the Resident Mines Officer before the first visit.
- Buy only through the market. Buy at the Mirerani market or from a licensed holder, and keep the Commission receipt with each parcel.
- Keep the register. Enter every receipt and disposal and file the monthly copy by the third day of the next month.
- Confirm the export rule. Ask the Commission in writing whether rough stones of your parcel's weight may leave, and how royalty paid on rough is credited.
- Export on full papers. File the export permit, obtain the certificate of origin, keep the seals intact and surrender the permit at exit.
- Route trouble to an advocate. A seizure, a charge, a forfeiture notice or a valuation dispute needs legal advice before any reply.
Key dates
| Date | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 10 January 2018 | GN 2 of 2018 published, with the tanzanite certificate of origin | GN 2 of 2018 |
| April 2018 | The 24 km Mirerani wall opened | The EastAfrican |
| 8 February 2019 | GN 135 of 2019 published, replacing the 2002 regulations | TanzLII |
| February 2019 | Reported guidelines allow rough gemstone exports up to two grams | GJEPC |
| 2020 | Mining (Lapidary) Regulations and Mining (Value Addition) Regulations, GN 687 of 2020 | Clyde & Co; TanzLII |
| May 2026 | Broker and dealer auctions at the Tanzanite Exchange Centre | Michuzi Blog |
| 13 October 2026 | Tanzanite strategy presented to the parliamentary committee | Michuzi Blog |
| 3rd of each month | Dealer's register copy due at the Commission | GN 2 of 2018 reg. 10(3) |
Rates change by Act of Parliament, usually each 1 July.
How Zatra helps
Zatra's sector business permits service prepares Mining Commission files for dealer licences, renewals and export permits, including the shareholding evidence for the 25% test. Our tax and regulatory compliance service sets up the minerals register, receipts and withholding records for each parcel. See our Tanzania mining page, the government fees handbook and pricing.
Two cost buckets stay separate. Royalty, the inspection fee, levies and licence fees are paid by the client to the authority at the official rate against its control number. Zatra's professional fee is quoted on its own and is never marked up onto them.
The Mining Commission, TRA and customs make every licensing, valuation and export decision. Zatra prepares and coordinates the file; it does not decide or guarantee any authority's outcome. Seizures, prosecutions, forfeiture challenges, licence disputes and formal legal opinions go to the advocate on our team.
Sources and status
Accurate as at 25 October 2026. Fees are from the Zatra fee register at 26 September 2026.
- Mining Act, Cap. 123: TanzLII, text as at 30 Nov 2019.
- GN 135 of 2019, Mirerani Controlled Area Regulations: TanzLII, 8 Feb 2019.
- GN 2 of 2018, trading regulations: 10 Jan 2018, FB Attorneys copy.
- GN 420 of 2022, lapidary amendment: TanzLII, 17 May 2022, record only.
- GN 687 of 2020, value addition: TanzLII, 28 Aug 2020, record only.
- Kimberley Process annual report 2022: Mining Commission, Apr 2023.
- 2019 Minerals Yearbook: Tanzania: USGS, Sep 2023.
- New Tanzania mining regulations: Clyde & Co, 7 Aug 2020.
- Wall to protect gemstones: The EastAfrican, 6 Apr 2018.
- Rough gemstone exports: GJEPC, 21 Feb 2019.
- Tanzanite exports: Mwananchi, 18 Aug 2024.
- Tanzanite value plan: HabariLeo, 20 Aug 2024.
- Tanzanite world sales: Mwananchi, 15 Aug 2025.
- Small tanzanite buyers: Mwananchi, 13 Sep 2025.
- Tanzanite Exchange Centre auctions: Michuzi Blog, 8 Jun 2026.
- Tanzanite strategy in Parliament: Michuzi Blog, 13 Oct 2026.
- Zanzibar mining law: The Citizen, 28 Nov 2024.
- Zatra fee register, fees at 26 Sep 2026. Accessed 25 Oct 2026, as were all sources above.
Figures to confirm before you act
- Declaring order: the GN number of the order that declared the Mirerani Controlled Area
- Mirerani amendments: the content of GN 592 of 2021 and the other amendments to GN 135 of 2019, including any entry fees under reg. 22
- Trading venue: the regulation that confines tanzanite trade to Mirerani, which the Minister cited in August 2024
- Rough exports: whether any weight limit applies to rough tanzanite now, and what GN 687 of 2020 provides
- Royalty credit: whether royalty and inspection fee paid on rough are credited when cut stones are exported
- Lapidary fees: the current Small and Large Lapidary Licence fees and machine counts after GN 420 of 2022
- R.E. 2023 numbering: current numbers for ss.5A, 8, 18, 27C, 73, 83 and 88; we read the 2019 text
- NEMC fee: whether the 0.4% gemstone fee is collected at the Mirerani market
- Zanzibar: whether a mining law covering gemstone trading is now in force
This article is general information based on official sources available at the date of publication. It is not legal, tax or financial advice. Laws and notices change. Verify with the issuing authority or consult Zatra before acting.
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreign company own a tanzanite mine in Tanzania?
Not outright. A gemstone mining licence goes to Tanzanians, and the Minister may allow non-citizen participation of no more than 50% after consulting the Commission. A foreign partner without that approval should look at trading through a dealer company or financing a licensed Tanzanian miner on documented, arm's-length terms.
Can a tourist take tanzanite home from Tanzania?
Yes, if the stones were bought from a licensed dealer and leave on a permit with a certificate of origin. Reputable shops arrange the paperwork. Keep the receipt, the permit and the certificate together in hand luggage, because airport officers may ask for all three.
Do tanzanite miners need a business licence as well?
No, for the mining itself. The Business Licensing Act excludes miners licensed under the Mining Act. A dealer, cutter or jewellery shop is a different business and should confirm with BRELA or the council whether a business licence is needed alongside the Commission licence.
Who values tanzanite for royalty?
The Commission can appoint Government Gemstone Valuators. For stones already sold, the sale price is normally used. Where the Commission and the seller disagree, the trading regulations provide for an agreed independent expert, whose valuation binds both sides. Keep invoices and grading notes for every parcel.
Can a broker sell tanzanite to a foreign buyer visiting Mirerani?
No. A broker may buy only at a designated buying station and may sell only to a licensed dealer. A visiting foreign buyer should buy from a dealer, who can obtain the export permit and the certificate of origin in its own name.
Is heat treatment of tanzanite regulated?
Yes. Clyde & Co's summary of the 2020 lapidary rules treats heat treatment for value addition as a lapidary activity, so it needs a lapidary licence. Disclose treatment on invoices, because international buyers and grading laboratories expect it.
Can I buy tanzanite outside the Mirerani wall from a miner I know?
Only if you hold a broker or dealer licence and the sale follows the Commission's market rules. A private cash sale between unlicensed parties breaches section 18 of the Act and exposes both sides to fines, prison and forfeiture of the stones.
What should I do if my stones are seized at the airport?
Ask for a written seizure notice that names the officer, the reason and the stones taken. Do not sign anything you do not understand, and do not offer payment. Instruct an advocate at once, because challenges to forfeiture can be time-limited.
Sources & regulators
Verify before filing: Rates, forms and thresholds move by Finance Act, Government Notice and portal revision. Confirm the live schedule on the mandate-holder portal before you budget or submit. Law-firm alerts and Big Four notes are discovery only.
- Mining Act, Cap. 123 (revised text at 30 Nov 2019): TanzLII, text as at 30 Nov 2019, ss.2, 4, 5A, 8(2), 8(5), 8(6), 18, 27C, 73(3), 74, 75(1), 83, 87(1), 88(1)(c) and 90A read 25 Oct 2026; primary source. Accessed 2026-10-25.
- Mining (Mirerani Controlled Area) Regulations, 2019, GN 135 of 2019: TanzLII, Government Notice published 8 Feb 2019, made under s.112, regs 6, 11 to 19 and 22 to 23 read 25 Oct 2026; amendment history lists 19 Apr 2019, 17 Jan 2020 and 2 Jul 2021 amendments not applied; primary source. Accessed 2026-10-25.
- Mining (Minerals and Mineral Concentrates Trading) Regulations, 2018, GN 2 of 2018: Government Notice published 10 Jan 2018, copy hosted by FB Attorneys, regs 3, 10, 14, 16, 17 and 18 read 25 Oct 2026; primary text. Accessed 2026-10-25.
- Mining (Lapidary) (Amendment) Regulations, 2022, GN 420 of 2022: TanzLII, version of 17 May 2022, record only (text not loaded) read 25 Oct 2026; primary source. Accessed 2026-10-25.
- Mining (Value Addition) Regulations, 2020, GN 687 of 2020: TanzLII, version of 28 Aug 2020, record only (text behind subscription) read 25 Oct 2026; primary source. Accessed 2026-10-25.
- Tanzania Kimberley Process annual report 2022: Mining Commission, Kimberley Process Office, dated Apr 2023, read 25 Oct 2026; official report. Accessed 2026-10-25.
- US Geological Survey: 2019 Minerals Yearbook, Tanzania: US Geological Survey, advance release Sep 2023, read 25 Oct 2026; independent official statistics source. Accessed 2026-10-25.
- Clyde & Co: Update on the new Tanzania mining regulations: Clyde & Co on Mondaq, Amalia Lui, Amreen Ayub, Peter Kasanda and Esther Kilimba, published 7 Aug 2020 (Mining (Lapidary) Regulations, GN 485 of 2020), read 25 Oct 2026; independent law firm source. Accessed 2026-10-25.
- The EastAfrican: Tanzania builds wall to protect gemstones: The EastAfrican, published 6 Apr 2018, read 25 Oct 2026; independent news source. Accessed 2026-10-25.
- GJEPC: Tanzania liberalises exports of rough coloured gemstones, including tanzanite: Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (India), published 21 Feb 2019, read 25 Oct 2026; independent trade body source. Accessed 2026-10-25.
- Mwananchi: Tanzanite ya Sh18.6 bilioni yasafirishwa nje ya nchi: Mwananchi, published 18 Aug 2024, quoting Minister Anthony Mavunde, read 25 Oct 2026; independent news source. Accessed 2026-10-25.
- HabariLeo: Serikali kuongeza thamani ya tanzanite: HabariLeo, John Mhala, published 20 Aug 2024, read 25 Oct 2026; independent news source. Accessed 2026-10-25.
- Mwananchi: Sababu Tanzania kuwa nyuma mauzo ya Tanzanite yake duniani: Mwananchi, published 15 Aug 2025, citing Bank of Tanzania export data, read 25 Oct 2026; independent news source. Accessed 2026-10-25.
- Mwananchi: Wanunuzi wadogo wa Tanzanite walia mfumo wa ununuzi usio rafiki: Mwananchi, published 13 Sep 2025, read 25 Oct 2026; independent news source. Accessed 2026-10-25.
- Michuzi Blog: Madini ya milioni 993 yafanyiwa mnada Tanzanite Exchange Centre: Michuzi Blog, published 8 Jun 2026, quoting Mirerani Resident Mines Officer George Kaseza, read 25 Oct 2026; independent news source. Accessed 2026-10-25.
- Michuzi Blog: Serikali yawasilisha bungeni mkakati wa kuboresha uchimbaji na biashara ya madini ya Tanzanite: Michuzi Blog, published 13 Oct 2026, read 25 Oct 2026; independent news source. Accessed 2026-10-25.
- The Citizen: How Zanzibar hopes to promote economic growth with mining law: The Citizen, published 28 Nov 2024, summary only read 25 Oct 2026; independent news source. Accessed 2026-10-25.
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