Diamond giant, De Beers, says it does not support any political party or provide funding for them, as part of its Code of Conduct.
The group responded today following allegations made by former president, Mokgweetsi Masisi yesterday in which he accused De Beers of funding the Umbrella for Democracy’s election campaign last year.
“In line with our Code of Conduct, which is publicly available on our website, De Beers Group does not support any political party, group or individual,” the group said in an emailed statement. “We do not provide financial or other support for political purposes to any politician, political party or related organization, or to any official of a political party or candidate for political office, in any circumstances, either directly or through third parties.”
The UDC won last October’s general elections by a strong parliamentary majority, resulting in the first change of political administration since Botswana’s Independence in 1966. Masisi’s Botswana Democratic Party, which had ruled the country since Independence, obtained just four seats in the election.
“In line with our Code of Conduct, which is publicly available on our website, De Beers Group does not support any political party, group or individual,” the group said in an emailed statement. “We do not provide financial or other support for political purposes to any politician, political party or related organization, or to any official of a political party or candidate for political office, in any circumstances, either directly or through third parties.”
The UDC won last October’s general elections by a strong parliamentary majority, resulting in the first change of political administration since Botswana’s Independence in 1966. Masisi’s Botswana Democratic Party, which had ruled the country since Independence, obtained just four seats in the election.
