Tanzania
Statistics & Facts:
- Capital City = Dar es Salaam
- Population = 41,892,895
- Official and Recognized Languages = Kiswahili or Swahili (official), Kiunguja (name for Swahili in Zanzibar), English (official, primary language of commerce, administration, and higher education), Arabic (widely spoken in Zanzibar), many local languages
- Independence = April 26, 1964
- GDP = $57.89 BILLION (USD 2009 estimate) / Per capita = $1400
- Currency = Tanzanian shillings
- Religion = Mainland – Christian 30%, Muslim 35%, indigenous beliefs 35%; Zanzibar – more than 99% Muslim
(Statistics from CIA – World Factbook)
Tanzania and Diamonds:
Tanzania only has one operating diamond mine at Mwadui, south east of Mwanza. The Williamson diamond mine is operated and owned by De Beers (70%) and the Tanzanian government. The Mwadui kimberlite was one of the world’s largest producing kimberlite pipes. The mine has been in operation since the 1930′s and has produced as much as 2Mct. Production has dropped significantly, due to flooding of the mine coupled with exhausted ore reserves. The mine produced 166,000 carats in 2003 an increase from 2002 but a decline from the 320,000 cts in 2000.
Exploration teams are looking for other economically viable kimberlites in Tanzania before the Mwadui pipe is exhausted. From 1940 – 1970, Williamson Diamonds undertook an extensive exploration program covering nearly all of Tanzania. More than 300 kimberlite pipes were found, of which 60 were found to be diamondiferous. However, details on methods employed in locating and determining the grade and quality of the kimberlites is poor. Hopefully modern methods of locating and evaluating kimberlites should accelerate the discovery of more diamondiferous kimberlites.
(MBendi.com)
Education in Tanzania:
Education is compulsory for seven years, until children reach the age of 15 years. Primary school tuition fees were abolished in Tanzania since 2002, but families still have the responsibility to pay for uniforms, testing fees and school supplies. Secondary schools are fee-paying and by law, all secondary education must be taught in English (except, of course, Swahili classes). Tanzania hosts several universities.
(Wikipedia.org)
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