SA backs Botswana’s bid to host Kimberley Process HQ

At the helm: Moagi was recently in talks with Mantashe in Gaborone PIC: FACEBOOK
At the helm: Moagi was recently in talks with Mantashe in Gaborone PIC: FACEBOOK

South Africa has thrown its weight behind Botswana’s bid to host the Kimberley Process (KP) secretariat, an effort which, if successful, would place the country at the centre of maintaining the global diamond industry’s image.

Austria and China are also bidding to host the two-decade-old diamond group’s secretariat and lobbying is intensifying ahead of a vote scheduled for one of the Kimberley Process’ upcoming meetings. The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme is the world’s leading organisation for combatting conflict diamonds, encompassing 85 countries that represent producers, markets, and other interest groups.

President Mokgweetsi Masisi, in his recent international engagements, has met with other heads of state to lobby them for the secretariat, including senior French officials. The United States last November said it 'commended' Botswana for its willingness to host the secretariat.

Editor's Comment
Gov’t, Balete should bury the hatchet

The acrimony that seemingly characterised the relationship between the Malete Land Board on behalf of the Botswana government and Kgosi Mosadi Seboko and the tribe, should now be water under the bridge as the tribe has finally gotten what it has been fighting for - the land.Kgosi Mosadi has articulated an instance upon which she was allegedly summoned to the State House by the Head of State, Mokgweetsi Masisi where the former claimed she was...

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