The Department of Mines & Geology Hosts KPCS Forum

      By Rorisang David Mahlo

The Department of Mines and Geology held a two days peer review meeting with Botswana and South Africa under the subcommittee of the Working Group on the Monitoring (WGM) of the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme (KPCS). This event was scheduled from the 10^th -11^th of August 2017, in the Board Room of Letšeng Diamond Mine.

The objective of this event is directly related with the 2017 theme of the KPCS that says “Promotion of Africa Diamond Trade,” which is an initiative that happens for the first time in Lesotho.

On top of that, WGM forum is usually convened to revive and ensure compliance by all seventeen (17) active countries trading under KPCS terms and international conditions, Lesotho included.

Furthermore, WGM peer review forum is influenced by an ironic observation of most African diamond producing countries that, there is totally no intra-Africa Diamond trade within the Continent happening at the moment. That, as according to the Chair Person of WGM- Dr. Sipho Manese “sabotages the rate at which most African diamond producing countries would positively impact on the Gross Domestic Products (GDP) of their respective countries.”

Dr. Manese went on to show that “the ultimate goal envisaged by most KPCS African countries is to push hard to get to a point where Diamond subsector will liberate most African citizens from living below the poverty line.” Adding that the deliberations discussed in this forum must drive towards helping each individual country to execute this vision without any fear or favour.    

In addition the Commissioner of Mines Lesotho Mr. Tšeliso Ntabe indicated that “this event came at an opportune time when the Ministry is anticipating to put in place the plans for construction the Lesotho Diamond Centre- a coincidence indeed.” The Commissioner also reported that, this diamond trading facility is aimed at creating a greatest deal of buying and selling platform for the fellow country men and women at their locality.

Furthermore, the Commissioner of Mines could not help but prayed for the ease of soliciting a strong political buy-in to support this important endeavor for the benefit of the Lesotho and Basotho at large. If this could become a dream come true...”since currently Lesotho is one of the top ten (10) best diamond producing countries internationally, this means our economy is going to flourish even much higher than where it is right now.”

For the sake of making it much clearer, Mr. Ntabe continued to shows that this will attract more investors in the country; small and medium diamond dealers and diggers will also be able buy and sell here; the tourism will also boom as the influx of visitors behind diamond buying and selling business would be localised.   
  

Towards the end of the meeting, the whole WGM team was convened for the courtesy call by the Minister of Mining Honourable Keketso Sello. It is at this juncture where Hon. Minister warmly welcomed the committee in the Kingdom of Lesotho and again wished them deliberations that will bear fruitful results for the country. 

In his welcome speech Hon. Sello said that “I welcome the chair and co-chair of Working Group on Monitoring (WGM) of the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme to Kingdom of Lesotho” Adding that by mere looking at them, one could automatically tell from their faces that they were heartily welcomed, and are even enjoying the breezes of the Mother land country Lesotho.

Most importantly the Hon. Minister Sello acknowledged that, the WGM visit has come to the Kingdom of Lesotho when Lesotho has adopted its Minerals and Mining Policy based on the Africa Mining Vision.  Adding that, the policy provides a strategic direction and strategies for managing the exploitation of the country’s mineral resources said the Minister.

Besides that, the Hon. Minister highlighted that, the Government recognises the growing economic importance of the mining industry, driven by diamond mining. However, in order to fully achieve that, the Ministry is currently reviewing its entire legal framework- the Mines and Minerals Act of 2005 said the Minister.

He concluded by  strongly emphasising that, more and frequent intersections with our fellow African countries is very crucial and can ultimately put Lesotho on board to ensure that our national interests are realised and considered in the Kimberly Process. He therefore wished them a bonvoyage when they have satisfactorily completed their business in the country.