24 Oct 2017

Botswana will continue to be transparent as much as possible in the diamond business, says Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security, Advocate Sadique Kebonang.

Welcoming a team of the Kimberley Process (KP) peer review officials at a cultural dinner hosted at Avani Gaborone Hotel on October 23, Advocate Kebonang said since the country was one of the leading diamond producing countries, it was committed to well defined procedures and legal frameworks in the diamond business.  

He said the country could not afford to conceal any information demanded by the review team, as it was dedicated to improving its standard by putting into use the advice that would come from the recommendations arrived at.

Minister Kebonang said he was delighted to note that the KP had been successful in eliminating elicit or blood diamonds over the years.

He also added that he was impressed by the peer review system because participating countries reviewed each other to ensure compliance to the requirements, and the fact that most member countries continued to be compliant.

“I am informed that the year 2017 is yet another time for submitting KP reforms which take into consideration key areas that need to be improved and emerging issues,” he said.

Advocate Kebonang said he was happy that topics shared with him included human rights issues, disclosure of synthetic diamonds, and civil society representation.

Speaking in an interview, the leader of the peer review team, Mr Patridge Sibanda said the Kimberley Process has successfully managed to lessen blood diamonds which were used to finance wars across the globe.

He said through set rules by member states, trade in diamonds had improved, adding that even the revenue acquired was for economic development.   

Mr Sibanda also said he was happy that although it was not possible to review each member within the specified period, some of the 54-member countries were committed to good diamond business operations.

For her part, Ms Khumo Mogaetsho from the Diamond Hub said the review was the third since the establishment of the process, adding that the past two reviews were successful as some member states continued to benchmark from Botswana.

Giving closing remarks, the deputy permanent secretary in the ministry, Mr Moremi Phiri said he was optimistic that the week-long visit by the team would be beneficial to the country after receiving the recommendations. ENDS