Fake diamonds cause panic
By Kizito Makoye & Lina Lorentz
With advanced technology and aggressive marketing, companies manufacturing
synthetic diamonds may pose a threat to diamond producing and exporting
countries such as Tanzania. If the laboratory-made diamonds gain popularity,
trade in the world’s most expensive gemstone might flounder.
A leading diamond trader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said increased
marketing and sales of synthetic diamonds could have an impact on Tanzania’s
exports of diamonds, which are a highly liquid commodity in the international
market.
Diamonds could cost up to US$ 500,000 depending on carat weight, clarity, cut
and colour. However, synthetic diamonds are manufactured for less than a 100
dollars and sold for a fraction of the price of natural diamonds.
In the US, there are two major companies that manufacture synthetic diamonds.
One is Gemesis Corporation situated in Florida. For the past eight years, it has
worked closely with the University of Florida’s Materials Science and
Engineering Department, processing gem quality diamond crystals.
In its state-of-the–art laboratory, there are at least 27 machines producing
diamonds or ‘cultured’ diamonds as the company prefers to call them.
Natural diamonds are a result of the development of earth. Over millions of
years, carbon has been put under enough heat and pressure to crystallise into
the hardest material known. Replicating it in a laboratory brings the process
down to three days!
By creating a similar environment, manufacturers begin with a small diamond seed
that provides the model for the process. By applying heat and pressure, the
carbon rearranges its atoms and reforms into a diamond crystal.
Gemesis has specialised in manufacturing yellow diamonds. Given the scarcity of
coloured diamonds, the price per carat is much higher than for colourless
stones. But with the advent of synthesised diamonds, they are now affordable for
the greater public.
“Our proprietary technology enables us to individually grow beautiful fancy
vivid yellow and fancy vivid orange diamonds, cut and polish the stones to
optimal quality and proportion, and match them in multiple diamond sets,” said
Carter Clarke, Gemesis’ founder and CEO in a television report last week.
A common question with regard to Gemesis-created diamonds is, “Are they
diamonds?” The very simple answer is, “Yes.” A well-cut Gemesis-created diamond
possesses all the qualities of its earth-mined counterpart: unequaled hardness,
fire, brilliance and scintillation. Like cultured pearls, man initiates the
process. The resulting diamond consists of the same pure carbon crystal
structure as a diamond grown by nature.
In an exclusive interview with The Express, Williamson Diamonds Managing
Director, Tony Guthrie, however, said it is virtually impossible to get one of
the earth’s most extraordinary and precious creations out of laboratory. The
company currently exports 250,000 to 275,000 carats per year.
“Let us be clear - the amount of synthetics being manufactured for gems is
negligible. The synthetics are a very different product from natural diamonds.”
Guthrie argued, “Diamonds are rare and special with an inherent value that does
not exist in factory made synthetics; forever cannot be produced in a few days.”
Stakeholders in the diamond business have expressed fears that the synthetics
could possibly spoil the value and market of natural stones as the customers
obviously opt for a cheaper alternative.
Guthrie, however, said that demand for real diamonds has never been stronger
over the years, adding that diamond jewellery sales have almost tripled since
1980 and continue to grow.
“Research shows that when it comes to diamonds people want the real thing with
94 per cent of women saying that they would prefer a real diamond over a
synthetic. Consumers say synthetics do not enshrine such core human values and
emotions.”
Guthrie explained that the only challenge they are facing is to ensure
consumers’ confidence in their purchases and prevent them from being misled.
Gemesis is making a point out of manufacturing diamonds, claiming that “[the
diamond] is grown in America. We have none of the issues of blood diamonds or
diamonds being used for terrorism or environmental concerns or slave labour
concerns,” said Clark.
Therefore, the firm insists that when its diamonds are sold, the buyer has to be
informed of where it comes from. The company through the International
Gemological Institute (IGI) has initiated a programme to assist retail
jewellers, designers and consumers to clearly identify laboratory-created
diamonds.
But only a small percentage of larger diamonds are lab-certified - though the
number seems to be growing as the industry becomes increasingly aware of
synthetics. Diamonds that are smaller than a fifth of a carat are almost never
sent to labs, since the cost would eat up any profit made from them.
There have been reports of Indian diamond retailers buying a US$35,000 batch of
preliminary Gemesis research stones last year and selling them in India at a 10
to 20 per cent profit. The retailers admitted that the customers did not know
the stones are synthetic, but said they don't care one way or the other.
In other words, Gemesis may be fully disclosing the nature of its stones, but
already one of its wholesalers is not.
This sudden arrival of mass-produced gems has threatened to alter the public's
perception of diamonds - and to transform the US$ seven billion industry,
perhaps even bankrupt it.
“Right now, we only threaten the way De Beers wants the consumer to think of a
diamond,” said Clark.
But De Beers, the world-leading cartel in the trade in diamonds, has with the
advent of manufactured diamonds set up what it calls the Gem Defensive
Programme. At no charge, the company is supplying gem labs with sophisticated
machines designed to help distinguish man-made from mined stones.
De Beers has been sending out its testing machines - dubbed DiamondSure and
DiamondView - to the largest international gem labs. Traditionally, these labs
analysed and certified colour, clarity and size. Now they have to distinguish
between man-made and mined.
The DiamondSure shines light through a stone and analyses its refractory
characteristics. If the gem comes up suspicious, it must be tested with the
DiamondView, which uses ultraviolet light to reveal the crystal's internal
structure.
"Ideally, the trade would like to have a simple instrument that could positively
identify a diamond as natural or synthetic," De Beers scientists wrote in 1996,
when the company unveiled plans to develop authentication devices.
"Unfortunately, our research has led us to conclude that it is not feasible at
this time to produce such an ideal instrument, inasmuch as synthetic diamonds
are still diamonds physically and chemically.”
In Tanzania, mining sector contributes about 2.3 per cent of the GDP, which is
projected to account 10 per cent in 2025 as stated in the Development Vision
2025. It is one of the leading components in generating foreign exchange
earnings within the non-traditional exports.
Tanzania has been a significant diamond producer for several decades, with the
bulk of production coming from the Williamson Diamonds Mine at Mwadui where
commercial production began in 1925.
Kalam touches Tanzanian hearts
By Angela Mazula
As Indian President Dr. A. P. J. Kalam’s action-packed tour of Tanzania drew to
an end Tuesday, his persona left a deep impression on the political and academic
circles, and even on the common people.
A highly acclaimed scientist and a visionary, President Kalam’s goodwill visit
was a revelation of sorts for many here in Tanzania.
To the Asian community that had gathered to listen to him at the Diamond Jubilee
Hall Monday, the Indian President advised: “Work for the prosperity of the
country you live in.”
His four-day visit covered a meeting with President Benjamin Mkapa; visits to
the University of Dar es Salaam, Nyerere Foundation and Uhuru Primary School;
address to the Asian community; meeting with certain business leaders; and a
day-long tour of Zanzibar.
Everywhere, President Kalam spoke of the special, strong ties between India and
Tanzania and the potential areas for further cooperation.
Among the issues highlighted were setting up of a special task force called
Focus Africa as part of India’s trade policy, where Tanzania is also one of the
beneficiaries; and further cooperation in the areas of health, education,
agriculture and food security.
In Zanzibar, Kalam visited fishery outlets, former Zanzibar slave market and
some other tourist attractions.
President Kalam met Zanzibar President Amani Karume, who showed him the various
economic activities on the Isles. Karume said lack of advanced technology was a
big obstacle faced by Zanzibari fishermen.
In his meeting with President Mkapa, President Kalam said, “We are very happy to
note that Tanzania’s economy has grown at a rate of about 5.5 per cent in recent
years, which is one of the highest growth rates in Africa. Tanzania has achieved
this by focusing on economic reforms, liberalisation, development and poverty
alleviation.”
He added that India is also determined to forge ahead on the fast track of
progress and the vision was to become a developed nation by the year 2020,
focusing on important areas in an integrated manner.
President Kalam said education and health care, agriculture and food processing,
information and communication technology, infrastructure development and
self-sufficiency in critical technologies was where both nations faced fresh
challenge.
President Mkapa remarked Tanzania would like the Indian success “to rub on to
us”. “Your experience is relevant to us, especially in the field of agriculture
and food security,” he observed.
During his address at the University of Dar es Salaam, President Kalam said the
first vision for the African and Asian nations was independence and now the
second vision is born, which is a “movement of the people to live in a developed
society, an economically enriched society, a powerful society and a beautiful
society”.
He underscored the role of the university in achieving the second vision for
Tanzania. He said Indian and Tanzanian universities should cooperate and
exchange views on education and globalisation.
He also exhorted poor nations not to rely on aid for long-term development. “You
have in this country Tanzanite and agriculture. Use those effectively to your
economic advantage,” he said.
The Indian President also visited the Mwalimu Nyerere Foundation, where he said:
“I salute this great personality (Mwalimu). He is a symbol of human spirit for
many generations and I would like to assure all of you that the billion of
people of India have got great admiration and respect for Mwalimu Nyerere.”
Dr. Kalam said Mwalimu Nyerere, who was also the first president of Tanzania,
was a leading light in the fight for African liberation and African unity.
“I believe that Mwalimu Nyerere Foundation has been established to be a
permanent and living tribute to Mwalimu Nyerere, who worked persistently
throughout his life to improve the quality of life and reaffirm the dignity of
African people,” he added.
President Abdul Kalam was born on 15th October, 1931 at Rameshwaram in Tamil
Nadu. After graduating in science from St. Joseph's College in Tiruchi, he did
his DMIT in Aeronautical Engineering at the MIT, Madras, during 1954-57.
During 1963-82, he served the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in
various capacities. Here, Kalam initiated Fibre Reinforced Plastics (FRP)
activities, then after a stint with the aerodynamics and design group, he joined
the satellite launch vehicle team at Thumba, near Trivandram, and soon became
Project Director for SLV-3.
As Project Director, he was responsible for carrying out the design,
development, qualification and flight testing of 44 major sub systems. The
project managed to put Rohini, a scientific satellite, into orbit in July 1980.
He was honoured with a Padma Bhushan in 1981.
Dr. Kalam, pioneer of India's missile programme, was awarded the country's
highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna, in 1997, for his immense and valuable
contribution to the scientific research and modernisation of defence technology.
Scandinavia: 3 accidents in 1
week
By Express Team
Scandinavia Express Services one of the most reliable bus transport firms in
terms of safety, comfort and punctuality has in the last seven days had three of
its buses involved in three separate road accidents, all caused by tyre bursts.
Asked if there was a possibility of revoking the transportation license for
Scandinavia Express for the repeated accidents, a highly placed source within
the Transport and Licensing Authority of the Ministry of Communications and
Transport who sought anonymity said that as an authority they couldn’t act.
“We can only act after having received recommendations from the enforcers, in
this case the traffic police who are vested with the responsibilities of
inspecting all vehicles in accordance with the Traffic Act number 30,” he told
The Express.
He said there are a number of aspects that have to be taken into consideration
before revoking someone’s transportation license. Some of these include the
number of buses that a firm owns and whether by so doing, the authority will be
fair to the transporters.
Other aspects that have to be considered before a licence is revoked, according
to the source, include insurance aspects for the injured, compensation to
relatives of the deceased and what laws such as the Highway Act and the
Transportation and Licensing Authority Act have to say regarding the matter.
According to sources, the most recent accident occurred at Gairo some 250 km
from Dodoma town when one of the vehicle’s front tyres burst. The incident took
place on Tuesday September 14 at mid-afternoon.
According to eyewitnesses the bus was 80 per cent full. No one died but sources
say that several passengers were injured. The bus was travelling from Dar es
Salaam to Dodoma.
The first of the recent spell of accidents occurred on Wednesday September 8, at
Mbarali in Mbeya Region whereby the ill-fated bus overturned after two of its
front tyres burst. The accident left four people dead including the driver and
22 people were injured.
The second accident occurred on Monday September 13, 2004 at Mikumi in Morogoro
Region after one of the bus’ front tyres burst. Two people including the driver,
died.
According to the Morogoro RCO Stephen Ngowi, the deceased were Kurwa Mankaya
(the driver) and a passenger Yona Mwambela. Ngowi named Anna Killingo as the
most seriously injured passenger.
The Express tried in vain to contact the Managing Director of Scandinavia
Express as he was out of reach on Wednesday. Also, the Regional Traffic Officer
(RTO) Afraen Ndossi could not be reached for comments as he was attending a
meeting.
New PG diploma courses at IFM
By Angela Mazula
Institute of Finance Management (IFM) has introduced new postgraduate diploma
programmes in different categories.
The Head of Research and Consultancy Department Elisante Gabriel told The
Express that courses would be running on Business Administration, Human Resource
Management and Accountancy.
The decision to start the postgraduate diploma courses came after taking into
account the result of research conducted in different regions. The findings
showed that people are looking for these types of courses following demands both
in Tanzania and abroad.
Gabriel said the idea of providing diversified education would enable a large
number of Tanzanians to seek further education; particularly attracting people
who already have employment but feel they want further knowledge and expertise
in their respective fields. If the number of educated people in Tanzania
increases, the economy of the country would profit, said Gabriel.
IFM are initially targeting Zanzibar, northern zone, Mwanza, Mbeya and Dodoma.
Students in these regions will be able to study anywhere in the region provided
they have identity cards showing where they are coming from.
He added that the service delivery system for all postgraduate diploma courses
have been re-engineered to meet the needs of prospective students and the
current business environment.
About 95 students have already joined in different courses.
Improper houses set for
demolition
By Express Reporter
Residents of Mwanza whose houses were erected without the authority’s approval
have been instructed to pull down the structures voluntarily; otherwise the
authorities will demolish them without notice.
This is according to a statement by Mwanza Regional Commissioner (RC) Daniel ole
Njolaay, delivered on Monday while officiating a special training in garbage
management.
The RC asserted that many structures and houses in Mwanza, which were built
contrary to City regulations, would face imminent demolition.
According to the RC, random construction of houses in non-allocated areas slows
down city plans for garbage collection and cleanliness in general.
He called upon individuals and institutions to start immediately demolition of
those houses erected in prohibited areas otherwise the law would take its
course.
Mwanza is reportedly gripped with the problem of improper garbage management and
collection, which is aggravated by residents neglecting cleanliness regulations.
Deputy City Director, Emanuel Kalobelo said Mwanza produces about 370 tonnes of
hard garbage from residential houses of more than 500,000 residents.
He appealed to city residents ensuring that all garbage is handled in a proper
manner to avoid contagious diseases.
Court of Appeal celebrates 25
years
By Express Reporter
As the Court of Appeal commemorates its 25th anniversary, the court is reported
to be sheltered in a temporary accommodation within the High Court building
along Kivukoni Front.
According to a statement availed to the media yesterday, plans are underway to
move it to former Forodhani Hotel Building where it is expected to be housed
temporarily pending construction of a modern building.
“While thus temporarily housed… the Court has been able to operate throughout
the country by going out on circuit and sitting at various upcountry centres,”
reads the statement.
For the past 25 years the caseload of the Court has continued to increase
quantitatively, as on July 2004 a total of 6,637 cases were filed compared to
119 cases filed in 1979.
Chief Justice Barnabas Samatta said in a statement that the Court has had to
inevitably face difficult challenges, for it was the first time for the country
to have a Court of Appeal of its own.
“In spite of the challenges and constraints of the moment, I am happy to say
that the Court was able to start on the proper footing, and it has continued to
perform well in its paramount role of dispensing justice,” he said.
He said in the past 25 years the judiciary has seen a lot of improvements in
terms of working tools infrastructure and manpower.
The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Bakari Mwapachu, commended
the Court of Appeal for reaching the age of 25.
The Minister insisted that the judicial system has its roots at the lowest
courts rank where most ordinary Tanzanians go to seek justice.
Settle disputes locally urges
registrar
By Nestory Ngwega, Tanga
The registrar of political parties, John Tendwa has appealed to district
government leaders to work effectively in solving political crisis in their
administrative areas, rather than depending on his office to settle any
disputes.
According to Tendwa there are many disputes in districts and in some cases they
threaten the current prevailing peace and calmness. Some conflicts could easily
be resolved by distract authorities in the concerned areas, he said.
As regards Tanga District, he said there were misunderstandings between CCM and
CUF concerning voter registration.
Tendwa said CUF was complaining that the majority of the chairpersons are
supporters of the ruling party and have been overlooking houses whose residents
are known to be CUF followers.
Likewise CCM is complaining that CUF owns nine chairpersons who they claim play
a dirty game of leaving CCM members unregistered in their areas.
He ordered district authorities to intervene and solve the disputes before they
become worse.
Moreover, Tendwa revealed that there were plans of removing dormant parties. The
government has been approached to pass a law, which determines that if a party
will not win a single seat in the elections, it would automatically be
disqualified.
Such measures aim to wipe out parties that are not doing politics, but rather
wait for seminar invitations only, said Tendwa.
“We register a party in order for it to take part in political affairs but if it
does not, it must be disqualified,” he said.
Mosquito nets reach pregnant
women
By Ashton Balaigwa, Morogoro
An experimental plan of distributing concession certificates to enable pregnant
women to obtain low-cost mosquito nets to fight malaria has been a great
success.
The plan which was carried out in Kilosa District, Morogoro Region and Kibaha
District in the Coast Region, aimed at reducing the number of women and small
children who die because of malaria.
Speaking at a sensitisation meeting with District and Regional Officers on the
National Concession Certificates Plan of purchasing mosquito nets for pregnant
women, the officers of the plan said, it had succeeded greatly after reaching
many pregnant women in various areas.
One of the programme coordinators from Kilosa District, Rosemary Nguruwe said
they succeed in distributing concession certificates for purchasing 9,725
mosquito nets.
Nguruwe said the concession certificates were distributed to 17,966 pregnant
women.
Change learning methods,
teachers told
By Kim Aidan, Morogoro
Teachers of Kigurunyembe Secondary School in Morogoro Municipality have been
advised to alter teaching methods to keep them up to date with changes in
science and technology.
The Chief Inspector of Schools, Eastern Zone, Elizabeth Kalunga when opening a
four-day workshop for teachers and general staff of Kigurunyembe Secondary
School, proposed this.
The globalisation policy she said has greatly contributed to change children’s
behaviours, following imitation of foreign cultures, a thing that has led many
youths to acquire characters that are alien to Tanzanian traditions and customs.
This state of affairs, Kalunga said, has greatly affected the examination
results. Therefore teachers ought to change teaching techniques to conform to
changes in science and technology.
She advised teachers to incorporate students when preparing the curriculum of
studies to discover problems encountered by students when using the curriculum
already in use. Adding, the school management should conduct various orientation
courses for teachers as a way of improving education standards and make their
students pass examinations with flying colours.
Responding the Chief Inspector’s comments, The Headmaster of Kigurunyembe
Secondary School, Edward Mizambwa, said the procedure of providing
re-orientation courses to staff and the general workers is of a permanent
nature.
Archbishop calls for action
By Nestory Ngwega, Tanga
The retired archbishop of the Lutheran Church for Northern Diocese, Dk. Erasto
Kweka has challenged politicians to take effective action regarding people’s
problems and national development.
The bishop made the challenge when addressing the congregation at the
Northern-Eastern Lutheran Cathedral Church in Lushoto District, Tanga Region.
He said some political leaders had a tendency of misleading people during
campaigns by giving too many promises of development, which later provide
difficult to live up to.
On the contrary Kweka said, politicians should take a different approach by
telling people the truth and collaborate with them.
He said people were fed up with talk of development without concrete actions
being put into effect.
Reporters advised on election
reporting
By Beldina Nyakeke, Musoma
Reporters countrywide have been advised to stop reporting stories that cause
resentment, misunderstanding and spreading rumours; but write informative
articles on the coming 2005 general elections.
Musoma District Council Vice-Chairman Alhaaj Abdallah Bulembo said this when
opening a seminar for reporters on investigative reporting.
Reporters should stop writing incorrect stories during the run-up to elections,
even if politicians do not follow leadership codes and give bribes, Bulembo
warned.
“It is a clear fact that our nation will conduct general elections from October
this year at local government level, followed at ward level, then
parliamentarian and presidential elections. Your duty as reporters will be to
educate the public on various issues related to elections such as the importance
of registering themselves for the coming elections and voting,” Bulembo
emphasised.
He noted that if reporters receive bribes, they would defame themselves,
including the media houses they represent, a thing that can cause libel cases.
100,000 chicken vaccinated
By Kabale Lazaro, Shinyanga
A total of 100,000 chickens have been vaccinated against cholera in Kahama
District, Shinyanga Region between 2000 and July this year.
Acting District Agricultural and Livestock Officer, Isaya Ndaga told The Express
last week that the exercise was conducted in 50 out of the 200 villages found in
the District.
Ndaga said, between 2000 and 2003, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) known
as Kahama Rural Development Programme (KRDP) under the supervision of Kahama
District Council Management conducted the vaccination.
Chicken owners contributed Tsh. 20 per bird for the purchasing of the vaccine.
Meatu teachers lack houses
By Kabale Lazaro, Shinyanga
More than 500 teachers working in 106 government primary schools in Meatu
District, Shinyanga Region, are without houses in their areas of teaching.
Meatu District School Inspector Casmir Mshandete told The Express last week that
out of them, 453 teachers are permanently employed while 125 teachers are still
in probation.
The district he said has only 78 teachers' houses, which are insufficient.
Consequently, many teachers have rented houses belonging to villagers, a thing
he claimed humiliates teachers.
Some teachers, especially those who come from outside Shinyanga Region, insist
that they should be placed in town schools, which results in more urban than
rural teachers.
Mshandete said, his office is continuing to sensitise and motivate people to
build houses for their teachers instead of waiting for the government and
beneficiaries to do the job.
CUF to sue CCM
By Juma Ng’oke, Maswa
The Civic United Front (CUF) in Maswa District, Shinyanga Region, intends to sue
Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) in Maswa Magistrate's Court on claims that CCM claimed
that a member who crossed to CCM after the last election, Lukas Masasi, is CUF
District Secretary.
According to CUF CCM, through its office in Maswa District, gave false
information to President Benjamin Mkapa that Lukas Masasi is Maswa District CUF
Secretary.
Contrary to CCM claims, CUF states that Lukas is not a CUF member and does not
hold any position in the party.
The report presented by CCM and later reported in the media (Uhuru of August 10,
2004) that the CUF Secretary crossed to CCM has spoiled CUF’s name, since Lukas
was expelled from leadership in November 2002, argues CUF.
Maswa District CCM Secretary Selemani Chombo has admitted that his office gave
the report, but did not want to make any comments on the matter. “It is true
that my office reported that Lukas crossed to CCM, but I ask you to come back on
another day so that I give you the correct answers; but for today I am not
prepared for that,” he said.