THE government has formed a special committee tasked with negotiation and repatriation of ancient items and historic artefacts that were looted during colonial rule.

Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Dastan Kitandula told the National Assembly yesterday that the government was eager to see how it benefits from natural resources and historic items that are currently stored in foreign countries.

According to him, the government is aware of the presence of Ivuna meteorite in London.

He said the meteorite with a volume of 0.01 tonnes fell in 1938 in Mbozi District, Songwe Region. 

“As I speak, the meteorite is being stored at the Natural History Museum in London,” he said.

He said that the ministry values the importance of the artefacts taken from the country before and after independence for various reasons and has started procedures to return them or see how to benefit from them

He was responding to a question by Momba MP Condester Sichalwe who wanted to know measures taken by the government to bring back historic items taken during colonial rule.

“When will the government start procedures of bringing back the Ivuna meteorite which is currently stored in London so that it can be used as tourist attraction?” she asked.

“How will Momba residents in particular and Tanzanians in general benefit from such items?” 

She asserted that the area where the meteorite was taken has interesting information for tourism and asked for the ministry’s plan of consulting elders to contribute related stories that can make the area one of historical sites that tourists can visit.