07 Nov 2022

Botswana  has won the bid to house the Kimberly  Process (KP)secretariat. 

 This  was announced at the just-ended Kimberly Process plenary which was held in Gaborone November 1-4.

The decision to accord Botswana the  right  to house the secretariat comes after enormous support from stakeholders and a rigorous campaign by President Mokgweetsi Masisi.

 In making the bid, Botswana’s message was always centered on the country’s diamond story which narrated its transformation primarily by harnessing the power of its diamond resources to empower its citizens.

The narrative emphasised that it was through revenue generated from diamond mining that government continued to transform the lives of people.

“The significance of Botswana diamonds on the economy is unlike any in the world; diamonds mean everything to us. Every good story you have heard about Botswana is predicated on the production, safe selling and responsible utilisation of diamonds, the President said in his pitch to the European Union.

In his recent address to the  natural diamond summit, President Masisi emphasised government’s dedication to the protection of the local diamond industry from the blemish of conflict diamonds.

 KP must  be jealously  guarded as a unique United Nations recognised tripartite entry, said Dr Masisi

Meanwhile, according to a communiqué issued at the end of the plenary,  the  secretariat will  for a period of three years be financed through a yearly contribution by World Diamond Council as well as a contribution by the  host  country amounting to 20 per cent  of the  KP secretariat budget in the  first year.

It is expected of all KP participants who have registered more than P13 billion of combined imports  and exports under the  KP system will contribute over P250 000.

Those with less  than P13 billion combined exports and imports  will  contribute  P100 000, says the communique.

It says the financial commitment  made to the  KP secretariat by any  participant will be subjected to participants’  annual  budget cycle and  funds in support of the secretariat will be disbursed to the host  country.

Speaking during the plenary  session, the council’s president Mr Edward Asscher, said  Botswana’s hosting of the secretariat would speed up adoption of reforms necessary for ensuring that the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) remained  relevant in a world where natural diamonds were under threat.

 Mr Asschers cautioned KP not to rest on the laurels of its early successes as it approached the 20th anniversary of the scheme in January 2023.

“It is equally important for the KP to move with current challenges since KPCS today offers incomplete solutions, for the current definition of ‘conflict diamonds’ is ineffective in preventing all instances of systemic violence,” Mr Asscher said.

The conflict diamonds definition, which has remained unchanged since 2003, applies only to rough diamonds financing civil war.

The plenary also approved a new ad hoc committee to oversee the next review and reform cycle, which is undertaken every five years. 

  Zimbabwe was welcomed as the new KP chair deputised by the  United Arab Emirates. ENDS