Debswana - Celebrating 50 years of mining the resource, enriching the nation!
Friday, July 26, 2019
It is the abundant foresight of leadership committed to the company and its values that has seen the venture traverse 50 years, with promises of more ahead. To paraphrase President Mogae, the economy of Botswana rests on a bedrock of diamonds.
On July 20th, 2019, against the backdrop of a full moon, Debswana weathered the cold to celebrate 50 years, incognisant to the date also marking the 50th anniversary of Neil Armstrong announcing, “The Eagle has landed”. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy put a monumental goal before Congress – ‘to land man on the moon and return him safely to Earth’. It would take eight years to reach the moon. NASA, an agency of the United States government responsible for the space programme, ate $25 billion before achieving that goal. On July 20th 1969, astronaut Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin set foot on the moon.
While his leadership has brought about significant progress and development, it is imperative that he exercises greater caution in his choice of words, particularly when addressing sensitive matters.One of the primary concerns is the potential impact of his remarks on Botswana’s relationship with De Beers, the diamond mining giant that plays a crucial role in the nation’s economy.The partnership between Botswana and De Beers has been mutually...