‘Lost’ Lerala diamonds finally back in local hands
Friday, March 24, 2023 | 1610 Views |
In the works: Lerala Mine closed in May 2017 and the fate of its last parcel of diamonds has been a tensely fought affair since then
Local authorities secured a key legal victory in Brussels recently and have the stones under their control, a situation that will bring finality to the saga at Lerala where creditors had filed claims worth P30 million.
“The diamonds are still in Belgium but in the hands of people engaged by Botswana who have just started the process for selling the stones,” Minerals and Energy ministry officials told BusinessWeek.
Instead, they should serve as a warning to health authorities, community leaders, and policymakers that something is not right. According to the Palapye District Development Committee’s latest report, 130 abortion cases were recorded between April and June 2026.On the face of it, the overall figure may represent a decline from the preceding quarter. However, going deeper into the figures, the monthly trend tells a different and more worrying...