Botswana aims at 80% stake - WikiLeaks

The latest Wikileaks cable reveal that Botswana has been working quietly with diamond partners to establish a diamond trading consortium where Botswana will have an 80% stake.

According to a Wikileaks cable entitled, 'AU SUMMIT: A/S CARSON'S MEETING WITH BOTSWANA'S VICE PRESIDENT MOMPATI MERAFHE', the now hospitalised vice- president told  USA's Assistant Secretary, Johnnie Carson, on July 2, 2009 at the African Union (AU) Summit in Sirte, Libya, that Botswana was in the process of concluding establishment of a diamond trading consortium including DeBeers, Anglo American and Namibia that would, once complete, consolidate 30% of global diamond trade in Botswana. Botswana will hold an 80% stake under the partnership.

The information is very valuable in that it has never been made public before.

Editor's Comment
Inspect the voters' roll!

The recent disclosure by the IEC that 2,513 registrations have been turned down due to various irregularities should prompt all Batswana to meticulously review the voters' rolls and address concerns about rejected registrations.The disparities flagged by the IEC are troubling and emphasise the significance of rigorous voter registration processes.Out of the rejected registrations, 29 individuals were disqualified due to non-existent Omang...

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