02 Jun 2019

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has underscored the role played by diamonds in the livelihoods of Batswana.

During a roundtable discussion with DeBeers leadership on May 31, President Masisi noted that the country’s diamonds had contributed immensely to the provision of social welfare, education, health, clean water, roads and other physical infrastructure services.

The President, who is in the US, also participated at the 2019 Jewelry Circular Keystone (JCK) Las Vegas Trade Show to engage with diamantaires who buy Botswana’s diamonds.

His participation was also meant to check and follow through the satisfaction of customers of Botswana diamonds.

This also includes demystifying the country’s diamond story, explaining who Batswana are, so that regular diamond clients can know about Botswana and what they stand for.

“I felt an undying desire to come and be part of the JCK because I was curious. We worked so hard and we have been in this game for so long, so I wanted to know who these people are that buy our diamonds,” he said.

President Masisi said Botswana cared about the income generated from diamonds, hence it was important to understand the diamond sector and the players within it.

He further noted opportunities for diversifying the economy and working towards the next transformation stage to realise the knowledge-based economy could also be achieved through diamonds.

In this regard, he said the value chain in the diamond processing involved a lot of technique and science, hence revenue from diamond sales could be used to educate and empower young people, re-skill and position the economic model to produce goods and services.

He also informed the audience that the country had put in place a legislation that allowed for sustainable mining with a strong emphasis on rehabilitation to ensure there is minimal environmental degradation and damage for the benefit of future generations. 

DeBeers CEO, Mr Bruce Cleaver said it was a privilege that President Masisi and First lady Neo Masisi graced the show to meet with the diamantaires in order to share the good that diamonds had done in Botswana and to share the amazing stories of their lives.

“For us as an industry, these are not just nice stories to tell, these resonate well with the diamond industry and the consumers." ENDS