Arusha — Residents of Mererani mining township have been challenged to venture into other economic investments rather than pipe dream on becoming rich through tanzanite mining and trading.

The challenge was sounded at Mererani by the Chairman for Saidia Wanajamii Tanzania (SAWATA), Mohammed Mughanja when addressing a Mererani peasants and herders development group, MIKIKI.

Mughanja lashed out at the attitude of over-dependency on tanzanite as the sole source of income and wishful thinking.

He said people in Mererani need to diversify for economic stability of the area and individual life improvement through cultivation of crops, vegetables and animal keeping.

He called on the government to support the local people by providing them with services such as water supply for irrigation and animal use.

MIKIKI group was established to spearhead the introduction of modern farming and animal husbandry methods for sustainable economic development of the Mererani locality.