Jumanne Mhero Ngoma (1939 - January 2019) was a Tanzanian man who was credited by the Tanzanian government with discovering the gemstone tanzanite.[1]
Biography
editJumanne Mhero Ngoma was born in the Same District, Kilimanjaro and relocated to the then-Arusha Region of Tanzania at an early age.[2]
In January 1967, at the age of 28, Ngoma discovered tanzanite at the Mererani hills in the Kiteto district of the then Arusha Region (presently Manyara Region). He claims that the initial analysis through the Tanzanian geological laboratory at the city of Dodoma identified the gemstone as a variety of the mineral zoisite.[3] Three years later, he was issued with a certificate of recognition by then-Tanzanian president Julius Nyerere and a financial reward of Tsh 50,000 for his discovery. In 1984, he was given a certificate for the scientific discovery by the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology.[4][5][6]
Despite discovering the rare mineral and the subsequent industry, it was found that Ngoma and his family had lived a struggling life of poverty in 2018.[7] In April 2018 (51 years since the discovery), then-President John Magufuli rewarded Ngoma 100 million Tanzanian shillings for his efforts in discovering the stone.[8]
References
edit- ^ "Tovuti Kuu ya Serikali | Madini". www.tanzania.go.tz. Retrieved 2023-08-31.
- ^ tanzanite-finder-living-poverty-govt-steps-curb-smuggling
- ^ "Jumanne Mhero Ngoma: Mvumbuzi wa Tanzanite". Global Publishers. 2016-03-22. Retrieved 2023-08-31.
- ^ "Mgunduzi wa madini Tanzanite afariki dunia". BBC News Swahili (in Swahili). Retrieved 2023-08-31.
- ^ "Tanzanian gemstone finder living in poverty". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 2023-08-31.
- ^ "Rais Magufuli, ukuta wa Mererani na Mzee Ngoma". Mwananchi. 2021-03-17. Retrieved 2023-08-31.
- ^ "Mzee aliyegundua Tanzanite ataka kuonana na Rais Magufuli | Muungwana BLOG". www.muungwana.co.tz. Retrieved 2023-08-31.
- ^ Mbamalu, Socrates (2018-04-12). "President Magufuli honours Jumanne Ngoma discoverer of Tanzanite gemstone with $44,000". Retrieved 2023-08-31.