By
Rorisang Mahlo
“This is the glorious and the
smartest partnership one has ever witnessed between Batswana and De Beers Group
of Companies; and its best befitting description could be “a full mind-blowing
and a unique economic revolution of its kind. Evidently, Batswana got it right
the first time,” acknowledged Hon. Keketso Sello.
Above all, “this portrays a picture of what the patriot has to learn and
replicate for the benefit of the country- The Kingdom in the Sky.” This words
were uttered by Hon. Minister of Mining in his analytical review at the end of
a one day Diamond Conference held at Palm Hotel in Botswana, on 13th
of November 2018.
The Ministry of Mining in Lesotho
was invited by their Botswana counterpart, Ministry of Mineral Resources, Green
Technology, and Energy Security with the spirit of continuous engagement
towards establishment of a multi-faceted bonds of assistance to each other for
the socio economic benefit of the two diamond producing countries.
“What strikes me most is the fact
that both Lesotho and Botswana got their independence in 1966 from Britain and
the question is why did we not take the route that Batswana took while we were
sharing so many things! Again both countries had a diamond prospecting
interaction with the same company - De Beers, and why did we kill the goose
that lays the golden egg by letting it go, “mofutsana ha ana laki maan,” said
Hon. Sello shaking his head with disbelief.
However, this year’s set theme
was: “Leading Business for Social
Capital” and the conference was discussing sustainable investment trends,
consumer insights, strategic partnerships, building brand value, and the
influence of diamonds and style, hence the involvement of fission sector, which
was a unique and the stylish way of showcasing diamond in beneficiation with
proper linkages to other sectors.
The 2018 Botswana Diamond
Conference was said to be on its fifth year with both De Beers Group and Botswana’s Ministry of
Mineral Resources, Green Energy and Energy Security teaming up to bring
speakers from the world of government, industry, financial institutions, the
media and fashion as part of the company’s partnership with the Government of
the Republic of Botswana.
To mark the importance and the
value attached to this event, the two Botswana partners opened this event with
the high-profile speakers including a keynote address from His Excellency
Mokgweetsi Masisi, The President of the Republic of Botswana. Also speaking at
the conference was Honourable Eric Molale, Minister of Mineral Resources, Green
Technology and Energy Security, as well as top executives from De Beers Group.
The delegates from all over the world were roughly estimated at 600 people. The De Beers Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Bruce Cleaver said, “Those in the private sector have an opportunity to build social capital not only through making investments in sustainable development, but also by sharing and communicating our insights. These include topics such as how to create stronger routes to market; how to build successful brands; how to foster competitive advantage; how to understand consumers; and how to communicate to the wider world.”
Furthermore, Mr. Cleaver went on to show that, meanwhile, their host countries and communities can support and accelerate it through activities such as creating a receptive and an enabling atmosphere; by matching skills development to meet the business sector requirements; and providing a secure and predictable environment in which enterprises can flourish to an extent of fully dominating in the process of job creation.
In general, the partnership
between the government of Botswana and the De Beers Group of Companies comprises
four companies, all operating from Botswana, and they are:
- De Beers Holdings Botswana- the exploration
arm of De Beers in Botswana;
- Debswana- a 50/50 joint venture between the
Government and De Beers, which is the primary producer of diamonds in
Botswana;
- Diamond Trading Company Botswana (DTCB)- a
50/50 joint venture between the Government and De Beers, which sorts and
values rough diamonds mined by Debswana; and lastly;
- De Beers Global Sightholder Sales (DBGSS),
the rough diamond sales arm of De Beers, the company that is responsible
for selling the bulk of De Beers’ global production to its rough diamond
customers (called Sightholders).
According to the Online 2018 De
Beers “Report to Society,” the 50
years old partnership seem to be paying dividends for the country and the
Republic of Botswana is currently rapidly booming. “In every street and every
corner of the main city and its outskirts, there are many new structural developments
happening,” shows the report.
Finally, the Government of
Lesotho, through the Ministry of Mining, is working very closely with the
African Legal Support Facility (ALSF) and officials of the Ministry of Mineral
Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security of the Republic of Botswana to
exchange some thoughts on the new mining legislation for Lesotho.
