AFGEM, the South African mining company that leases a prolific tanzanite site from the Tanzanian government, has successfully fended off a legal challenge to its right to mine there. "In a unanimous decision of the full bench of the High Court of the United Republic of Tanzania, the lawsuit faced by African Gem Resources Limited ( 'AFGEM') has been struck off in its entirety with costs," says Joanne Herbstein, AFGEM company spokesperson. "Three mining associations in Tanzania filed various charges against AFGEM, members of its directorate, and the previous Tanzanian minister of energy and minerals. The allegations related to the legality of AFGEM's mining license, taxes paid, alleged misconduct by AFGEM staff towards small-scale artisanal miners, and AFGEM's alleged monopolization of the tanzanite market." AFGEM legally leased Block C, one of the more productive mine sites, from the