20 Jun 2013

Botswana diamonds are intended to benefit every Motswana, National Assembly deputy speaker, Mr Pono Moatlhodi has said.

“The story of our diamonds is the one for development, both infrastructural development and human resource development,” Mr Moatlhodi said in an interview during the June 19 tour of Jwaneng Mine by SADC parliamentarians.

The deputy speaker also indicated that even though some MPs were sceptical about the beneficiation arrangement, it was proper that the proceeds of the mineral resources should benefit all citizens equally rather than only those in the surroundings of the mine.

“Minerals are to be proportionally shared rather than to benefit certain people only,” he explained. Meanwhile, the SADC legislators were impressed by the 30-year-old Jwaneng Mine during their visit.

Apart from the big size of the open cast mine, legislators were particularly impressed by the way it was managed. In an interview after the tour, Zambian National Assembly speaker, Dr Patrick Matibini said the partnership between Botswana government and the private sector was amazing because it had been able to benefit the citizens.

“This shows that if a partnership between government and the private sector is properly structured then it can highly benefit the country,” he said. He further noted that he was impressed by the high level of discipline at the mine in terms of operation procedures.

A representative from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mr Balamange Nkolo said he appreciated the way profits from the mine were being used to develop the country. “I also appreciate the way they explore the minerals and protecting the environment by living in harmony with wild animals. It is really a dream for some,” he said.

A South African delegate, Mr Patekile Holomisa said he was impressed to find that the government was the core owner of Debswana. That, he said, was something that other countries in the region could emulate.

He however noted that people who were relocated during the exploration of the minerals should be perpetual beneficiaries of the mine proceeds. He said a once-off compensation package was not enough since those people would have come a long way to settle where the mine was currently located .ENDS