BCP appeals to De Beers on mine closures

Our expectation is that De Beers should continue to mine," BCP deputy president, Dr Kesitegile Gobotswang, said this week at a press conference where the party issued a financial and economic alert. He called on De Beers and the government to devise strategies to sustain diamond mining giant Debswana. The company is a 50-50 joint partnership between De Beers and the Botswana government.

Gobotswang called on the government to come up with a stimulus package to assist smaller mines. He said the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) must admit that the diversification of the economy, that it has been preaching, has failed dismally. The BCP called on the government to be more pragmatic.