Polish All Botswana Diamonds Locally, President Reportedly Urges

President Duma Boko has called for every diamond from Botswana’s mines to remain in the country for manufacturing, signaling a major policy shift, according to a local report. 

“We are moving to a point where no mineral will leave this country without being processed,” The Projects Magazine quoted Botwana’s president as saying. “No diamond will leave this country raw — all will be cut and polished here. No copper concentrate will be exported without local value addition.” 

Most Botswana rough currently goes to India and other manufacturing centers for cutting and polishing. While the government and De Beers have tried to incentivize companies to set up local factories, progress has been limited because of the high costs of doing business. 

Speaking in the local Setswana language at a community meeting in the village of Ramotswa, Boko said the government was working on a robust beneficiation program to transform the national economy, according to the report, which the news publication published on its Facebook page. 

Image: Botswana President Duma Boko speaking at the Facets conference in Belgium in November 2024. (AWDC)