18 May 2017

Vice President for World Bank Africa region, Mr Makhtar Diop says shrewd macro-economic policies have enabled Botswana to use diamond revenue to survive 2008/2009 economic crisis.

Mr Diop said in an interview at the end of his tour of the Jwaneng mine on May 17 that as a result, the diamond mining nation has been able to stay afloat where many sunk.

The fact that the mine was taking a lead among its peers in the world, he said, makes it an ideal place benchmark against.

He said it was incumbent therefore upon nations of the world and, in particular the African continent, to draw lessons from Botswana’s story.

Good management of resources, coupled with sound government structures, according to Mr Diop, has proven to be the magic wand that has not only turned around Botswana socio-economic fortunes, but has made it to rank among the least corrupt nations in the entire continent.

“I was impressed by the quality of the management of the mine. It just makes me proud as an African to see high caliber executive leading the mine and showing to the rest of the world that Africa has the ability to hold its own against the best in the world,” he said.

Jwaneng Mine General Manager, Mr Albert Milton, relayed the visit by World Bank Vice President for Africa region was profound in that it helps projects  the good image, both the Mine and the country.

“The World Bank is a very important stakeholder for both our country and mines and I believe the visit and subsequent interaction with us has made them appreciate what this mine means to the nation in as far as spearheading developments over the last 50 years,” he said. ENDS