Diamond sales register robust 2017 start
Friday, January 27, 2017
At the first sight of the year held in Gaborone last week, De Beers reported strong improvement with sales fetching $720m (P7.6 billion) in what is normally one of its strongest demand period.
A year ago, De Beers, 15% owned by government of Botswana, generated $545m from its sales to about 80 handpicked clients called sightholders and through auctions.
The fees have been doubled from the previous amounts and raise concerns about political participation accessibility and democratic representation principles.This significant fee increase prompts questions regarding its impact on grassroots democracy.On one hand, the fees act as a filter, ensuring only serious contenders enter the race, potentially reducing frivolous candidacies and generating crucial campaign funds. The BDP argues that aspiring...