A small scale miner who became an overnight billionaire after selling biggest stones ever found in Tanzania’s tanzanite mining industry has told the BBC that he’s optimistic he will find other big stones in the near future.
Laizer Saniniu said he draws his confidence from the analysis of his geologist.
Mr Saniniu has been in the mining business for more than 15 years and admits that this is the first time he has been this lucky.
Despite becoming everyone’s envy and inspiration he has warned that the business is not as easy as people think.
“It is very expensive to operate the mines. Most of the times we get loans, while at other times we are forced to contribute money among ourselves as small scale miners,” he says.
Mr Saniniu has diversified his business interests and ventured into other areas like constructing malls. He’s has also used part of his fortune to build a school and a church to his community.
“Farmers’ and pastoralists’ kids are often not attending school because schools sometimes are very far and children spend most of the time looking after animals,” he said.
