We can have a debate all day long. Botswana-De Beers relationship come from way back. As a nation we have seen the good they brought in our diamond industry. The problem is we are living in an era where politics take a toll on everything and then turn a blind eye on everything. I would say the partnership has been fruitful and quite awesome. But we need to have a controlling stake as a state and ensure that we have power on this contract by so doing it will empower us to have the know-how of our own operations. We can’t terminate the contract without a proper plan ahead. The contract on its own needs to be revamped and certain clauses needs to be reviewed. That’s it.

[BONIE OLORATO]

People speak as if this contract is not negotiable. This is not cast in stone, it is a negotiable instrument meant to be reviewed as and when circumstances permit. Government should not act as if they will cause the heaven to fall. If they have to, let them fall. When negotiating this agreement, we should not only advocate for more shares for Botswana but also we review the agreement in terms the clause that says if there is a dispute it can Only be resolved through a court of law in UK. We are now in 2023 and not in1965, circumstances and conditions have changed and so we need a change. [SEBONEGO BARUNGWI]

The BCP is clear on a number of critical issues. Firstly, we want Botswana to get a better deal than the current one, especially with regard to value addition and moving up the diamond value chain in general. Secondly, we do not like President Masisi’s approach. He should respect the negotiation process and avoid speaking about ongoing negotiations in public. We are also very uncomfortable with the Government entering into the HB Botswana deal while the De Beers deal is ongoing. Even if De Beers and HB Botswana operate in different parts of the diamond value chain, as is often claimed, De Beers is an interested party and should, at a minimum, be fully aware of Botswana’s intentions and how they affect them. We believe that the President does not act like someone who appreciates the risks to Botswana that could arise from mismanagement of the De Beers contract negotiations. Nor does he realize how his conduct generally contaminates the business environment. What he is doing with this deal is very much consistent with, and as reckless as, his early outbursts against foreign investors in the tourism industry, the series of abrasive import bans that seem to constitute part of an economic strategy we are yet to appreciate, and lately, the alleged theft of a citizen private investor’s idea in what seems like an ill-advised nationalization of a part of the beef value chain.

[DUMELANG SALESHANDO]

We definitely need De Beers, why ? It’s like we just all of a sudden part ways with a company that has been mining our diamonds though with little crumbs that fell on us. We are not prepared to fall back on something should the deal be cancelled. All potential companies that’ll replace De Beers are also going to lead us and obviously take a big chunk of proceeds as well. Rona we don’t have technical knowhow and operating systems or to rely on so any hasty decision. We are going to fall down crumbling. And that’s how we can destroy this economy in a faster way ITUMELENG

MOTERATI

President Masisi’s position is not hard to understand.

- Botswana must get a greater percentage share in the new deal with De Beers.

- The new deal must not restrict Botswana to the sale of raw diamonds. - Botswana must be a player in valueadded processing, trading in finished products of a higher export sale value.

- The new deal must ensure that local companies are players in the diamond business consequently creating quality jobs and industries. - Ba ba reng re lesego la ga Nthonyana a reka podi ka rootane go bo re e ja mahohora a mahohora ba loilwe.

[THAPELO OTLOGETSWE]

The President could be bluffing, but he is also a very reckless leader. It looks like he is carelessly trying to arm-twist De Beers without any regard for the consequences. While the agreement between De Beers and Botswana is secret, we hear that De Beers should be given 10 years’ notice of termination, and that litigation can only be in the UK to enforce contractual obligations of each party. If that’s true, the President could just be bluffing. We can’t underestimate De Beers’ influence in the global diamond trade; the President must engage and desist from public outbursts and threats. He must go to the table and negotiate a better deal for Botswana. This could also possibly be a campaign gimmick because we have raised these concerns for many years. He’s simply saying what we’ve been saying all these years. The difference is that he must do what we’ve asked him to do and stop complaining. [DITHAPELO

KEORAPETSE]

Personally, I do not think Government will pull out of the deal with De Beers. If they pull out, it will collapse the economy. It will take a while to bounce back. I do not think will they will pull out. De Beers is owned 85 percent by Anglo American and 15 percent by Government of Botswana. The 85 percent that Anglo American owns in De Beers, for them is nothing. Its peanuts. Even if the deal doesn’t work, it will not affect them. Anglo American is into other minerals and is a much bigger company, and De Beers is just a small subsidiary. If we become De Beers competitors and they become hostile, they can crash the market. And it will be dire for the economy of Botswana. We need to have a plan when we think about walking away. De Beers spent more than 100 years developing the markets; being able to value and aggregate. Technology that is used at mining level is theirs, technology used at DTCB is De Beers technology.

Okavango Diamond Company have started developing its own technology, but we are not yet there, for the scales that are at stake to be able to sustain us.

[GAOLATHE NDABA]

The further we push Debeers the closer you are pulling our diamonds to be named Blood Diamonds. To push them out should be a slow process done through acquiring more shares from them

[OABZA DIABZA]

With my little understanding of Economics and the value chain dynamics of the diamond industry , Botswana and DeBeers need each other. In their negotiations none should be arrogant and pompous especially where such behavior is propelled by fly-by-night companies ......... Botswana and DeBeers need each other and MUST negotiate for the benefit of each other. [NONOFO

BOTSEKA]

Botswana has to stand on its own. Botswana should be truly free and independent. At some stage every thing out grows dependence from animals , birds and humans. It all starts from dependence on parents and later adult freedom. It you don’t play you can’t win. Imagine how an eaglet will be stuck in the nest if it doest take a risk of taking its risky first flight. [OLIVER MALAU]

O hithela re ntshitse ditshika tsa molala ha go buiwa ka diteemane. Mme kana le ha re ka tsaya 100% a ya go helela mo go bone le MaChina le Ma-India