Batswana have been urged to go all out in defending their diamonds and jealously guard the valuable resource.
Vice President, Mr Slumber Tsogwane made the call in Orapa, Friday during the launch of Botswana diamond stamp, an occasion which also marked Debswanas 54th anniversary.
We must go all out and defend our diamonds, but we must first defend our country and our democracy, he said.
Mr Tsogwane said the story of Botswana diamonds was safe from all angles, noting that in order for one to paint a negative story about the local diamonds as some activists previously attempted, one would be compelled to state in detail the disintegration in the countrys democracy.
The stone age did not end because of the depletion of stones, but the difference in technological advancement, he noted. Mr Tsogwane stated that technological advancement must enhance local diamonds,.
He warned that Botswana could be doomed if value addition for local diamonds was not ensured, citing that some of the donors supporting National Aids and Health Promotion Agency (NAHPA) would soon pull out.
Narrating the journey of diamond mining in Botswana, Minister of Minerals and Energy, Mr Lefoko Moagi said the first Debswana Mine was opened in 1971 and government put in place legislation to govern the industry.
He said full production of an annual 2.5 million carats was reached in 1972 and Orapa provided 10 per cent of government revenues and a third of export earnings.
Mr Moagi said Mr Hermans with other experts and consultants negotiated for government. Botswana he said initially received 15 per cent of equity from DeBeers, 10 per cent royalty and income tax on profits of the mine.
One could easily say government should have secured a better deal, as you have probably realised from my talk, these matters are a very complex, he said.
Mr Moagi noted that in a re-negotiated agreement of 1975 Botswana and DeBeers each got 50 per cent shareholding.
He further indicated that the discovery and mining of more diamonds in Letlhakane and Jwaneng followed.
He said it was revenues from Orapa that financed the opening of Debswana mines being Letlhakane and Jwaneng.
Jwaneng Mine, which was officially opened in 1982 had become the most profitable mine in the world and by the mid 1980s its annual production had shot up to 12-13 million carats a year.
Mr Moagi said diamonds started contributing 70 per cent of export earnings and half of government revenue. ENDS
