Gaborone, Botswana – The Natural Diamond Council (NDC) is urging the global community to recognize and celebrate the remarkable story of Debswana diamonds. During a recent visit to the Jwaneng Mine, Richa Singh, Managing Director for India and the Middle East at NDC, emphasized the importance of sharing the positive impacts of natural diamonds on both local communities and the environment.
Accompanied by Siddarth Gothi, Chairman of the Botswana Diamond Manufacturers Association, and other NDC members, Singh highlighted the growing consumer interest in the ethical and sustainable aspects of their purchases. Drawing from her extensive experience in the luxury goods sector, she noted that today’s consumers are increasingly keen to understand the social and environmental benefits associated with the products they buy.
“Natural diamonds have a unique and compelling story that needs to be shared with the world,” Singh stated. “It’s not just about the beauty and rarity of these gems, but also about the positive impact they have on the communities involved in their production.”
Singh challenged Debswana to create content that focuses on the human stories behind the diamonds. She stressed that such narratives are crucial for engaging modern consumers and aligning with the NDC’s mission of promoting natural diamonds through high-traffic marketing platforms. These platforms aim to highlight the inspiring stories of the diamond industry and the communities it supports.
Debswana, a joint venture between the government of Botswana and De Beers, is one of the world’s leading diamond producers. The company is renowned for its commitment to sustainable mining practices and its significant contributions to the socio-economic development of Botswana.
When reflecting on the NDC visit, Debswana Managing Director Andrew Motsomi said, “”At Debswana, we are deeply committed to sustainable and ethical mining practices. Our diamonds are not just symbols of luxury, but also of the positive change and development they bring to our communities and the nation of Botswana. We are proud to share our story with the world and to highlight the real and lasting benefits that our industry provides.”
The NDC’s call to action is part of a broader strategy to enhance the global perception of natural diamonds. By showcasing the ethical and sustainable practices of companies like Debswana, the NDC hopes to strengthen consumer confidence and drive demand for natural diamonds in key markets around the world. As the diamond industry continues to evolve, the NDC remains committed to supporting its members and promoting the positive stories that define the sector. Singh’s visit to Jwaneng Mine underscores the importance of collaboration and storytelling in achieving these goals.
Recently Debswana has been supporting various programmes such as the following;
• Girl Eng and Maranyane Bokamoso Programme: female students from Boteti and Jwaneng Mabuatsane areas have been encouraged to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM.) Workshops are conducted to help improve access to information for females around STEM, as well as provide access to mentors and support networks to help female students succeed, while changing perceptions around engineering and technology and ignite an interest in these. To date more than 1400 girls have participated in the programmes.
• EntreprenHER formerly AWOME (Accelerating Women Owned Micro-Enterprises): Debswana in partnership De Beers and UN Women continues to empower women in Boteti and Jwaneng Mabutsane by training 159 women owned micro-enterprises. In addition to skills development, the programme places emphasis on Climate Smart Agriculture, aimed at introducing sustainable agricultural practices to women entrepreneurs and also focusing on enabling women to thrive in sectors traditionally dominated by men, thereby promoting gender equality and economic empowerment.
• Camphill Community Trust: Debswana has funded the renovation of a Tea Garden located at the centre, which will be open to the public once completed in August 2024. The Tea Garden will be commercially operated to supplement funds for the Community Trust. Debswana has also partnered with De Beers Sightholder Sales and Diarough to improve other facilities at the centre.
• Stanbic Bank Partnership on SMMEs: In an effort to empower Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in the Boteti and Jwaneng, Debswana and Stanbic Bank have partnered and invested P5 million into a special grant programme. The five-year deal, worth P1 million a year, is to help small business owners take their enterprises to the next level and can also be used as capital for those looking to start their own business.
2.3 Improving Education Outcomes
Debswana has been implementing an Education specific programme titled Debswana Government Schools Development Programme (DGSDP) aimed at capacitating teachers to deliver learning particularly in the areas of Science, Mathematics, End agriculture.
Embedded in the programme is also an effort to improve the quality of academic results in the same subjects. With a deliberate intention to now focus specifically on improving the quality of results of schools in Debswana’s areas of influence, a baseline study was conducted which ultimately produced a bouquet of recommendations, key among them being the need to partner with Ministry of Education and other stakeholders to develop programmes to improve performance in these schools.
