Tanzania, Jan. 15 -- Arusha. It was all smiles and joy one chilly morning in June 2019, when the facility swung its gates wide open to the public.

That was during the official opening of the Arusha Mineral Trade Centre, not very far from the iconic Clock Tower.

The faces of those in attendance, especially the mineral dealers, beamed with prospects of more fortunes from gemstone trade.

These included hundreds of small dealers who swarmed the area ahead and after the opening ceremony; later staying put.

This was to be the major and formal buying and selling centre for all minerals in Arusha, notably the gemstones.

These include the precious blue and violet zoisite, as the Tanzanite is scientifically known.

However, on Friday, it was a...