EU goes ahead with contested diamond move
Friday, January 12, 2024 | 1080 Views |
Joint forces: Moagi and Cook have spoken out against the G7 move
Under the move, the G7 wants all global rough diamond production shipped Antwerp for certification that the stones are not of Russian origin, something described by Minerals and Energy minister, Lefoko Moagi, as “market swallowing”.
The G7 or Group of Seven represents most of the world’s richest economies and the major market for diamond jewellery, meaning their decisions reverberate across producer nations such as Botswana.
That a single private law firm pocketed P6.5 million for just four cases, out of a total P11.1 million paid for 25 matters, reeks of a system that was not merely disorganised but open to abuse.Bayford has taken a welcome first step by telling the Public Accounts Committee the truth. Now he must act decisively to ensure it never happens again and that any money lost to wrongdoing is recovered.The figures are staggering. Whilst ordinary Batswana...