GABORONE (Reuters) &#8211; Botswana issued its first licences allowing three private companies to generate their own power which will mostly be destined for export, the energy regulator said on Thursday.



The Independent Power Producers (IPPs) have received 15-year generation licences and will produce a combined 827 megawatt (MW) of power.



State-owned Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) is currently the sole producer of electricity but the country is looking to diversify with several private investors at various stages of setting up coal, gas and solar power projects.



“We need to come to a point where we no longer import but become exporters of electricity,” said Botswana Energy Regulatory Authority chief executive officer, Rose Seretse.



Energy &amp; Natural Resource Corporation, which is owned by Strata, plans to construct a 600 MW coal-fired power station, Tlou Energy has been granted a licence to produce 2 MW of power through coal-bed methane and Sese Power, owned by First Quantum Minerals and African Energy have been licensed to generate and export 225 MW of power.



Despite its huge estimated coal resources of 212 billion tonnes, the diamond-rich country only has two operating coal mines with several investors at various stages of setting up coal mines for either export or power generation.



Lack of adequate rail infrastructure and the high costs of road transportation have been holding back investments in Botswana coal sector.

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Botswana issues maiden power generation licences to private producers

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S&#038;P Global Ratings has affirmed Uganda’s foreign and local currency long- and short-term sovereign ratings with stable outlook. And the week ahead if filled with inflation data from Nigeria, Botswana and GDP numbers from Ghana. Ridle Markus, Africa Strategist, Absa Corporate and Investment Banking joins CNBC Africa for more.

COVID-19: Tracking market movements across the African continent

By Chris Bishop



Scores of countries across Europe celebrated VE – Victory in Europe day – today to mark the end of World War Two that saw the slaughter of tens of millions of people of all creeds and colours from the deserts of North Africa to the snows of Scandinavia.



This is a good time also for Africa to reflect on it sacrifice between 1939 and 1945 that also acted as a catalyst for change on the continent. One million people took up arms in Africa to fight the crushing power of Nazi Germany, Japan and Italy. South Africa recruited more than 300,000 men – around 70,000 of them black South Africans who fought, worked and died usually unsung. The rush to the colours was staggering in some African nations – Botswana, then called Bechuanaland, asked for a couple of thousand army volunteers from its far flung villages and saw 10,000 recruits in just over a month. When I wrote a story on those men, in 2000, most then in their late 70s, many had kept proudly their uniforms and war medals and could still salute smartly as any parade ground peacock.



Tens of thousands never came back. Many of the black riflemen who fought hand-to-hand with the enemy received little reward, maybe a new suit and a bicycle, and often died in poverty.



One such overlooked hero was Job Maseko from KwaThema, in Springs near Johannesburg. He was a delivery man in his home town and joined up in the then Native Military Corps. &nbsp;Following his basic training he was shipped to North Africa, in 1942, to face General Erwin Rommel’s tough Afrika Korps that had the allies on the run.



On June 21 1942 Rommel’s tanks swept into Tobruk capturing thousands of allied soldiers including more than 10,000 troops of the South African 2nd Infantry Division. Among the 30,000 prisoners was Lance Corporal Job Maseko.



Italian troops held the black South African soldiers under guard and by all accounts treated them poorly. This angered the feisty Lance Corporal Maseko who swore revenge against his enemy captors. They forced Maseko to work loading an Italian military supply ship. He took a milk tin and filled it with cordite and a fuse. With the help of his fellow prisoners he placed it among petrol drums deep down in the ship and blew it sky high – a big blow to the enemy war effort.



Generals recommended Maseko for a Victoria Cross – the highest award for gallantry in wartime regardless of rank – but the colour of his skin counted against him, in their eyes. Instead, they awarded him a lesser Military Medal.



“In carrying out this deliberately planned action, Job Maseko displayed ingenuity, determination and complete disregard of personal safety from punishment by the enemy or from the ensuing explosion which set the vessel alight,” said the medal citation.



When Lance Corporal Maseko came home there was little waiting for him and he died in poverty. In 1952, a train did what the Germans and Italians couldn’t – it hit Maseko and killed him.



Yet others who went to the war from Africa – from Johannesburg to Kenya to Nigeria – returned to fuel the fires of independence. They had seen how their white comrades-in-arms had bled and screamed for their mothers, too, as they died. It exploded many colonial myths of white supremacy and created a generation of battle hardened patriots ready to question and throw off the shackles of imperial rule.



VE Day is not only a time to reflect on the ending of a world war – it is also a time for Africa to reflect on the sacrifices of its great-grandfathers, who fought toe-to-foe with fascism; and also how it led to hard won freedoms at home.

Job_Masego00

Victory in Europe Day – Time for Africa to reflect on its blood and sweat sacrifice

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Botswana has declared a 6 months state of emergency to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the country. The country was first placed on a 28 day lockdown but has been extended on demand by parliament; the country has 22 confirmed cases so far with 1 death. Joining CNBC Africa to unpack the economic impact that this move will have on industries, trade and businesses is Bogolo Kenewendo, Economist and the former minister of investment, trade and industry in Botswana.

Bogolo Kenewendo on how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting Botswana’s economy

NKC African Economics expects the coronavirus-related knock to economic
growth in Africa’s three largest economies alone to shave off 1 ppt from the
continent’s GDP growth this year, from 3.8% to 2.8%. 



Preliminary estimates point towards the weakest continental growth
since the early 1990s.



The continent’s three largest economies, South Africa, Nigeria and
Egypt – together accounting for just under 60% of African GDP – will see a
significant weakening in economic growth this year. 



This slowdown in economic activity will permeate through the
continent as these countries are salient drivers behind economic growth in
their respective regions.&nbsp; 



In addition to the indirect effects stemming from weakness in the
largest economies, other African nations will also have to deal with a much
more volatile external economic environment. 



The collapse in tourism will weigh on economic growth in many
countries (particularly the island nations, Morocco, Egypt, and Tunisia), while
a reduction in both export demand and commodity prices will weaken fundamentals
in Africa’s more export-oriented economies (most notably the oil producing
nations).&nbsp; 



The escalation in the Covid-19 outbreak in Africa implies there is
a lot more at stake than foregone economic production. 



Most African countries will not be able to effectively implement
the severe restrictions on movement that we have seen globally. The
impracticality of implementing widespread self-quarantine in shantytowns or
informal settlements means that this will not be an option. Mismanagement of
the situation could lead to human costs far exceeding economic losses.



Tourism is a key forex generator and employment creator across the
continent. Severe travel restrictions, border closures and lockdowns in key
source markets will result in a collapse in tourism during the first half of
the year, at least. 



Domestic and intra-Africa tourism have been key drivers behind
growth in overall tourism in recent years, but as more Covid-19 cases are
confirmed on the continent we will see an increase in domestic travel
restrictions and regional border closures. 



The island nations will be hardest hit, but the mainland will feel
the effects in the North (particularly in Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt), South
(Namibia, Botswana), East (Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya) and West (Côte d’Ivoire,
The Gambia, Cameroon). 



Low barriers to entry have led to tourism becoming a key source of
employment. The island nations in particular are dependent on tourism to
generate employment, most notably the Seychelles (where tourism accounts for
around 44% of formal employment), Cape Verde (39%) and Mauritius (19%). 



Tourism has also become a salient job creator on the African
mainland, and a slump in the sector could result in rapid job losses given the prevalence
of micro- and small-sized enterprises operating in the sector.&nbsp; 



The slowdown in global economic activity will translate into a
reduction in demand, while lower commodity prices will compound this negative
effect on exports. 



Africa’s energy exporters will struggle to come to terms with a
much more hostile external environment. Countries such as Nigeria, Angola and
Gabon are highly dependent on oil exports not only to generate forex but also
to fund government spending. 



Countries including Namibia, Zambia, Botswana and Mozambique are
dependent on mineral exports for the same reasons. 



Generally speaking, countries that have a GDP structure orientated
towards exports will feel the pain of a weaker external environment.



Lower international energy prices will have a detrimental impact
on the continent’s oil exporters, but many other countries stand to benefit. 



A reduction in the oil imports bill will have a favourable impact
on external balances while also containing consumer price inflation. Lower
inflation will support consumer spending at a time when a weak external
environment increases the importance of domestic consumption in driving overall
economic growth.&nbsp; 



The South African economy had already entered 2020 on a very
fragile footing before the dramatic external developments related to the
Covid-19 pandemic. NKC forecasts a 5% real GDP contraction this year. Domestic
policy uncertainty and supply-side constraints have now been accompanied by a
deterioration in global business sentiment and a drop in demand for South
African goods, all weighing on the country’s economic recovery prospects. 



In addition, the three-week long nationwide lockdown, which
commenced on March 27, will result in a collapse in consumer spending. The
outlook could deteriorate further if the lockdown is extended.&nbsp; 



The coronavirus has not as yet, as far as we know, taken
significant hold in Nigeria. However, the weaker external environment and more
specifically, the recent collapse in international oil prices, will have a
marked impact on the economy’s performance this year.



Lower oil prices will result in tighter FX liquidity, rising
inflation, falling investment, lower fiscal expenditure and easing consumption
growth. 



As a result, NKC has revised its growth projection sharply lower
to 1.2% this year, with risks still firmly stacked to the downside. 



A more severe domestic outbreak of Covid-19 would cause
significant disruption to daily economic activity, particularly when
considering the population density in the country’s biggest cities. 



Despite the Egyptian government’s efforts, the number of confirmed
Covid-19 cases continues to rise considerably. 



The president has urged all citizens to stay at home for a two-week
period and a night-time curfew has been declared, while the possibility of a
formal lockdown in some regions is also circulating in local media. 



The fiscal deficit is set to widen significantly over fiscal year
(FY) 2019/20 and FY 2020/21 following the announcement of a stimulus and
bail-out package to the value of approximately E£100bn. 



Government revenues already came in far below budget during the
first half of FY 2019/20 and will take a massive knock during the second half
of the fiscal year, which ends in June. 



Lower economic growth reflects weaker consumption, investment, and
exports. 



The recently announced fiscal stimulus measures, however, should
prevent a collapse in domestic demand. 



The economic impact of the coronavirus epidemic will be
considerable, but the human costs will be higher yet. 



As of end March South Africa remains the hardest-hit African
country from a confirmed-case perspective and the expected economic hardship
reflects this. 



However, South Africa is also arguably the best-placed country on
the continent to deal with the pandemic. While it does have a large
immuno-compromised population due to its struggles with HIV, the country might
be able to leverage its sophisticated private healthcare sector to supplement
inadequate public services. 



Most other African nations will not have this benefit. 



Confirmed Covid-19 cases will undoubtedly increase across the
continent in coming weeks, and timely and effective government responses will
be required to ensure that this does not become another African tragedy.



Jacques Nel – Head of Africa Macro



For more coverage on COVID-19 visit: <a href="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/covid-19/">https://www.cnbcafrica.com/covid-19/</a>

Clarification on COVID-19 “hotspots” as SA moves to level 3 lockdown

Op-Ed: African giants to stumble due to Covid-19 pandemic

NAIROBI/ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) &#8211; More African nations confirmed their first cases of the coronavirus and shut borders amid fears of the disease’s impact on fragile health systems, as Chinese billionaire and Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma pledged to donate over 1 million testing kits to the continent.



Thirty African countries &#8211; more than half the continent &#8211; are now treating nearly 400 patients with coronavirus, after Tanzania, Liberia, Benin and Somalia said they registered their first cases. 



Africa had until recently been spared the rapid spread of COVID-19, which has infected at least 180,000 people worldwide and caused over 7,000 deaths. But health experts are concerned the continent’s often dilapidated health infrastructure will struggle to cope as cases mount. 



“We cannot ignore the potential risk to Africa and assume this continent of 1.3 billion people will blissfully escape the crisis. The world cannot afford the unthinkable consequences of a COVID-19 pandemic in Africa,” Ma’s foundation said in a statement. 



The foundation will send 1.1	million testing kits, 6 million masks and 60,000 protective suits and face shields to Ethiopia for distribution to Africa’s 54 nations, it said. 



Earlier on Monday, the World Bank said it had committed $60 million to Kenya to help the East African nation battle the outbreak. 



Some countries on the continent, such as conflict-hit Somalia, depend on donors to support basic public health facilities. 



Somalian Health Minister Fawziya Abikar Nur said the ministry had quarantined and tested four Somalis who came from China last week, and one had tested positive for the respiratory disease. International flights to Somalia were suspended for two weeks, the aviation minister said. 



In West Africa, the small and impoverished nation of Liberia announced its first case. Liberia was devastated by a 2014 Ebola epidemic that killed 4,000 people, and its healthcare system has remained underfunded despite promises of investment. 



Benin, considered a relatively stable democracy in the turbulent West African region, also announced its first case. The Health Ministry said the Beninois national was being held in an isolation ward in the capital after returning from Belgium and Burkina Faso on March 11. 



The Health Ministry in the East African nation of Tanzania also confirmed its first case, a Tanzanian woman who had travelled to Denmark, Sweden and Belgium. She had her temperature taken at the airport but had no fever and was allowed to pass, but later felt unwell at her hotel, the ministry said. [L8N2B913C] 



Also on Monday, Rwanda, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Senegal and Cameroon all reported more cases and South African Finance Minister Tito Mboweni said his nation, which has 62 cases so far, may need to raid other government departments for funds to fight the disease. He did not provide any figures. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">CRACKDOWN AS BORDERS CLOSE </h3>



Many African nations, including some without reported cases, have ordered tougher control measures, including bans on public gatherings, halting flights and closing schools and universities. 



In northern Africa, Tunisia said it would suspend international flights and close its land border in an effort to contain the spread of the virus. 



Botswana, in southern Africa, said on Monday it would bar entry to travellers from 18 high-risk countries, including China, Britain, the United States, Iran, France and Italy. 



In West Africa, Senegal said it would suspend flights to and from France, Italy, Spain, Belgium and Portugal, as well as Tunisia and Algeria, for a period of 30 days. 



Ivory Coast said it would bar entry to travellers from countries with over 100 cases, although Ivorian citizens and residents would be allowed to return if they went into quarantine for 14 days. It also closed schools, nightclubs and cinemas and banned gatherings of over 50 people, according to a national security council statement. 



Ethiopia, Africa’s second-largest nation, joined the growing list of countries that closed schools for two weeks, suspended all large gatherings and cancelled all sports events, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s office said. 



Government buses will give people free rides to curb overcrowding in the public transport system, a statement said. 



In Central Africa, Congo Republic said it would suspend all flights from high-risk countries from Thursday. Neighbouring Gabon reduced the number of flights from abroad to one a week per airline and ordered restaurants to close, barring takeout and delivery. 



Nigeria’s Health Ministry said the country, Africa’s most populous, had strengthened contact tracing, stockpiled reagents used in test kits and increased testing capacity. 



Also on Monday, Kenyan police raided a clinic alleged to be selling fake coronavirus testing kits. Police detained staff and locked the facility, witnesses told Reuters journalists at the scene, after it had been advertising testing kits online. 



(Reporting by Giulia Paraviciniin Addis Ababa, Adbi Sheikh in Mogadishu, Omar Mohammed, Baz Ratner and David Lewis in Nairobi, Juliette Jabkhiro in Dakar, Clement Uwiringiyiman in Kigali; Olivia Kumwenda in Johannesburg and Elias Biryabarema in Kampala; Diadie Ba in Dakar; Christian Elion in Brazzaville; Loucoumane Coulibaly in Abidjan; Gerauds Wilfried Obangome in Libreville; Writing by George Obulutsa, Katharine Houreld and Alessandra Prentice; Editing by William Maclean, Steve Orlofsky and Peter Cooney)



This article was first published on Reuters Africa <a href="https://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFKBN214194-OZATP">https://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFKBN214194-OZATP</a> and is republished with its permission.

More African countries confirm first coronavirus cases as Jack Ma pledges aid

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Joining CNBC Africa for Africa Exchange segment is Ridle Markus, Africa Strategist at Absa Corporate and Investment Banking for the slew of monetary data that is out in Botswana, Zambia and Namibia and the possible impact of the Coronavirus on Sub-Saharan Africa.

How the coronavirus outbreak impacts SSA’s growth outlook

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Joining CNBC Africa for today’s Africa exchange segment is Ridle Markus, Africa Strategist at Absa Corporate and Investment Banking to discuss Zambia’s energy crisis.

What is behind Zambia’s deepening energy

What is behind Zambia’s deepening energy, economic crisis?

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CNBC International spoke with the president of Botswana Mokgweetsi Masisi at this year’s World Economic Forum on his plan to push Botswana&#8217;s growth potential locally and internationally.

World Economic Forum: Botswana’s Mokgweetsi Masisi on why the youth

World Economic Forum: Botswana’s Mokgweetsi Masisi on why the youth, leapfrogging present a big advantage for the country’s growth

JOHANNESBURG, Jan 16 (Reuters) &#8211; The United Nations World Food Programme said on Thursday that a record 45 million people in the 16-nation Southern African Development Community faced growing hunger following repeated drought, widespread flooding and economic disarray.



Southern Africa is in the grips of a severe drought, as climate change wreaks havoc in impoverished countries already struggling to cope with extreme natural disasters, such as Cyclone Idai which devastated Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi in 2019.



Zimbabwe, once the breadbasket of southern Africa, is experiencing its worst economic crisis in a decade, marked by soaring inflation and shortages of food, fuel, medicines and electricity.



&#8220;This hunger crisis is on a scale we&#8217;ve not seen before and the evidence shows it&#8217;s going to get worse,&#8221; the WFP&#8217;s Regional Director for Southern Africa, Lola Castro, said in a statement.



&#8220;The annual cyclone season has begun and we simply cannot afford a repeat of the devastation caused by last year&#8217;s unprecedented storms.&#8221;



The agency plans to provide &#8220;lean season&#8221; assistance to 8.3 million people grappling with &#8220;crisis&#8221; or &#8220;emergency&#8221; levels of hunger in eight of the hardest-hit countries, which include Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Madagascar, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini and Malawi.



To date, WFP has secured just $205 million of the $489 million required for this assistance and has been forced to resort heavily to internal borrowing to ensure food reaches those in need, it said.



In December, the United Nations said it was procuring food assistance for 4.1 million Zimbabweans, a quarter of the population of a country where shortages are being exacerbated by runaway inflation and climate-induced drought.



&#8220;Zimbabwe is in the throes of its worst hunger emergency in a decade, with 7.7 million people – half the population – seriously food insecure,&#8221; the agency said.



In Zambia and drought-stricken Lesotho, 20% of the population faces a food crisis, as do 10% of Namibians.



Castro said that if the agency does not receive the necessary funding, it will have no choice but to assist fewer of those most in need and with less.



(Reporting by Nqobile Dludla; Editing by Jon Boyle and Giles Elgood)

UN food agency says record 45 million people across Southern Africa face hunger

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Botswana’s economy is expected to grow by 3.6 per cent this year, which is down from a previous forecast of 4.3 per cent. According to President Mokgweetsi Masisi the GDP for the diamond mining nation is estimated to expand by 4.4 per cent in 2020. Joining CNBC Africa for more is Sanya Suri, Analyst at the Economist Intelligence Unit.

Botswana revises 2019 GDP growth down to 3.6%

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Botswana&#8217;s partnership with De Beers has been hailed as a successful public private partnership model. Now as the two negotiate its extension, CNBC Africa’s Godfrey Mutizwa sat down for a chat with Neo Moroka, CEO of De Beers Botswana for more.

De Beers’ Moroko on building a successful public-private partnership with Botswana

De Beers’ Moroka on building a successful public-private partnership with Botswana

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Africa is still to find cohesion around a diamond mining strategy even as its political leaders drive continental integration. CNBC Africa’s Godfrey Mutizwa spoke to Mzee Fula Ngenge, President of the African Diamond Council at the 2019 Diamond Conference in Gaborone.

Africa in a bid to find cohesion in the diamond industry

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Botswana would benefit from branding some of its diamonds. That&#8217;s according to Naseem Lahti, Managing Director of Lucara, founder of Botswana&#8217;s two largest diamonds. She spoke to CNBC Africa’s Godfrey Mutizwa about this and diversity in the industry.

Lucara’s Naseem Lahti on how she continues to break barriers in male dominated diamond industry

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Botswana wants more Batswana involvement in in its key diamond industry as it renegotiates its partnership with De Beers as part of a strategy to full beneficiation of the industry. That&#8217;s the view Mmetla Masire, permanent secretary in the country&#8217;s mineral resources ministry. He spoke to CNBC Africa at the 2019 diamond industry.

Mmetla Masire on how increase Batswana’s involvement in the diamond industry

Mmetla Masire on how to increase Batswana’s involvement in the diamond industry

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Botswana wants more Batswana involvement in its key diamond industry as it renegotiates its partnership with De Beers as part of a strategy to full beneficiation of the industry. Bruce Cleaver CEO, De Beers Group spoke to CNBC Africa for more.

De Beers CEO Cleaver on achieving full beneficiation in Botswana’s diamond industry

The Diamond Conference speaks to the core aspirations of the partnership between Government and De Beers Group in support of the aspirations of our producer governments to continue to play a leadership role in the diamond value chain and create economic impact for the communities.



Africa is the world&#8217;s largest producer of diamonds, producing as much as 50% of global production. To date, Africa has produced over 75%, in value, of the world&#8217;s diamonds with more than 1.9 billion carats worth an estimated $US 158 billion mined.



The Diamond Conference is the only Diamond specific forum on the African continent and over the past 4 years has evolved in size, influence and significance as a key platform for engagement for the global Diamond Industry.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The theme of the 2019 conference is: Consumer | Community | Cluster Development | Collaboration</h2>



In accordance with the principles of the De Beers value proposition the 2019 Diamond conference will further facilitate our engagement strategy with a primary focus on the 4Cs:



Consumer Confidence&nbsp;– the changing consumer landscape, trends and its impact on the diamond value chain.



Community&nbsp;&#8211; The importance of establishing a multi-stakeholder approach to enhancing the sustainability of diamond equity focusing on Economic, Social and Environmental imperatives.



Cluster Development&nbsp;– in terms of the diamond supply chain, innovation, disruption and various factors that impact the industry directly or indirectly. There is need to explore the opportunity to create a self-regulating, evidence-based innovation pipeline that will support commercial longevity in the current global context.



Collaboration&nbsp;– the value of collaborative relationships to address shared risks that impact the diamond sector.



For more info visit <a href="http://www.thebotswanadiamondconference.com/index.html">http://www.thebotswanadiamondconference.com/index.html</a> 



Content provided by De Beers Group

Botswana

Botswana issues maiden power generation licences to private producers

COVID-19: Tracking market movements across the African continent

Victory in Europe Day – Time for Africa to reflect on its blood and sweat sacrifice

Bogolo Kenewendo on how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting Botswana’s economy

Op-Ed: African giants to stumble due to Covid-19 pandemic

More African countries confirm first coronavirus cases as Jack Ma pledges aid

How the coronavirus outbreak impacts SSA’s growth outlook

What is behind Zambia’s deepening energy, economic crisis?

World Economic Forum: Botswana’s Mokgweetsi Masisi on why the youth, leapfrogging present a big advantage for the country’s growth

UN food agency says record 45 million people across Southern Africa face hunger

Botswana revises 2019 GDP growth down to 3.6%

De Beers’ Moroka on building a successful public-private partnership with Botswana

Africa in a bid to find cohesion in the diamond industry

Lucara’s Naseem Lahti on how she continues to break barriers in male dominated diamond industry

Mmetla Masire on how to increase Batswana’s involvement in the diamond industry

De Beers CEO Cleaver on achieving full beneficiation in Botswana’s diamond industry

Why the Diamond Conference remains a key platform for engagement for the global diamond industry

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Botswana

Botswana issues maiden power generation licences to private producers

COVID-19: Tracking market movements across the African continent

Victory in Europe Day – Time for Africa to reflect on its blood and sweat sacrifice

Bogolo Kenewendo on how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting Botswana’s economy

Op-Ed: African giants to stumble due to Covid-19 pandemic

More African countries confirm first coronavirus cases as Jack Ma pledges aid

How the coronavirus outbreak impacts SSA’s growth outlook

What is behind Zambia’s deepening energy, economic crisis?

World Economic Forum: Botswana’s Mokgweetsi Masisi on why the youth, leapfrogging present a big advantage for the country’s growth

UN food agency says record 45 million people across Southern Africa face hunger

Botswana revises 2019 GDP growth down to 3.6%

De Beers’ Moroka on building a successful public-private partnership with Botswana

Africa in a bid to find cohesion in the diamond industry

Lucara’s Naseem Lahti on how she continues to break barriers in male dominated diamond industry

Mmetla Masire on how to increase Batswana’s involvement in the diamond industry

De Beers CEO Cleaver on achieving full beneficiation in Botswana’s diamond industry

Why the Diamond Conference remains a key platform for engagement for the global diamond industry

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