18 Feb 2018

The relocation of DTC International, now De Beers Global Sightholder Sales (DBGSS), from London to Gaborone in 2013 was aimed to maximise benefits from diamond mining through local beneficiation.

Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security, Advocate Sadique Kebonang, told Parliament that it also aimed to create employment opportunities and catalyse economic growth through linkages with the rest of the economy such as banking, tourism, hotel and industry, catering, transport and security sectors which would benefit from serving the DBGSS and its clients.

Advocate Kebonang explained that the standards adopted by Botswana included the Kimberly Process (KP) Regulatory Framework in 2003 when KP was established. Furthermore he said since relocation, DBGSS exports and imports of rough diamonds were subjected to the Kimberly Process regulatory framework, and that all rough diamond exports and imports were accompanied by the Kimberly Process.

About the establishment of a diamond register, Advocate Kebonang said all diamonds produced, traded, exported or imported into Botswana were registered with the Department of Mines and the Diamond Hub, adding that “the associated statistics is reported to the Kimberly Process quarterly and annually.”

He further told Parliament that “there are nine Batswana diamond valuers out of a total of 15 government diamond valuers,” and that the experience of the nine Batswana in diamond sorting and valuation ranged from 18-37 years.

Specially elected Member of Parliament, Mr Mephato Reatile had requested the minister to state when the DTC International was established in Botswana, what were the main aims of the relocation from London to Botswana.

The minister was also asked to state the standards adopted among the regulatory and control measures, namely the Kimberly Process and the establishment of a diamond register.

Furthermore, Mr Reatile wanted to know how many Batswana were diamond valuers and their experience in diamond valuing. Ends