01 Nov 2022

Botswana’s development journey from being one of the least developed states at independence to its current middle-income status testifies to the importance of authentic natural diamonds.

The country was a prime example of what natural diamonds could achieve for human development if sensibly managed,  Minister of Minerals and Energy, Mr Lefoko Moagi said in Gaborone Monday.

Addressing guests at a natural diamonds summit gala dinner, he said Botswana presented  diamond consumers and end users with a powerful tale of natural gemstones ethically managed and used for improving ordinary people’s livelihoods as well as transforming the country. 

The guests, including President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi and Zimbabwe’s Minister of Mines and Mineral Development Mr Winston Chitando heard that the diamond industry needed to instill confidence in the authenticity of the product and value systems that underpinned its mining and value chain.

Minister Moagi said the discovery of the Orapa kimberlite field just after independence and later the Jwaneng one, made Botswana the world’s largest producer of natural diamonds by value, said the minister. Financing of development projects with revenue accruing from the diamond trade became of paramount importance, he said.

The minister said Botswana now sought to leverage on its utilisation of diamonds for development experience to engage in downstream and value chain industries in order to further finance sustainable development.

Because of that ambition, the country was a suitable candidate for  hosting the Kimberley Process secretariat, he said.

The mechanism brings  together governments, civil society and industry players to share expertise and insights on preventing the blood diamond trade. 

Kimberley Process chairperson, Mr Jacob Thamage said the mechanism had made a big impact on the  diamond trade value chain expansion  over the past five decades.

With  its economic fortunes having been significantly altered by diamonds, Botswana  aspired to become an even bigger industry player, he noted. ends