Diamonds – A Country’s Best Friend (Roger)

Botswana is one incredible African country! Okay I know I’m biased, but try to find another country in Africa that has done what Botswana has done – that is my challenge for you!
One of the fortunate things in the history of Botswana is that diamonds were not discovered until immediately after independence. If diamonds were discovered earlier the country would have a vastly different history – the colonial powers would then have been very interested in doing some development, in the form of digging.
Botswana had the largest growth of Per Capita Income in the world from independence in 1966 to the turn of the century. It went from being one of the poorest African countries to one of the wealthiest ones. The standard of living of SOME of the local population is much higher than when we lived here 17 years ago. We live in a neighborhood that would have been completely expatriate when we were last here, and today we are the ONLY expatriates. This large modern city was only a remote bushy area before they decided to build a capital city here at independence. Yes times have changed!
There are currently four diamond mines here – and at least one is considered the richest gem-quality diamond mine in the world. The others are also high on the list. The country has been blessed with leaders that have struggled hard to build a new democratic nation. The first two presidents were incredible men and without them the country could not have achieved what it did – after all, Africa is full of mineral rich countries that have made many corrupt leaders wealthy. Sixty percent of the government’s income today comes from the joint venture negotiated with DeBeers, the diamond supplier of the world. In Botswana the company is called Debswana. The government has wisely used the income to improve health care, education, and infrastructure for all citizens.
The only cause for concern is what will happen if the diamond market goes south for the long term, which could happen if synthetic diamonds ever become economically viable.
Yes Botswana is one incredible country, and yes diamonds are a country’s best friend.

Botswana is one incredible African country! Okay I know I’m biased, but try to find another country in Africa that has done what Botswana has done – that is my challenge for you!
One of the fortunate things in the history of Botswana is that diamonds were not discovered until immediately after independence. If diamonds were discovered earlier the country would have a vastly different history – the colonial powers would then have been very interested in doing some development, in the form of digging.
Botswana had the largest growth of Per Capita Income in the world from independence in 1966 to the turn of the century. It went from being one of the poorest African countries to one of the wealthiest ones. The standard of living of SOME of the local population is much higher than when we lived here 17 years ago. We live in a neighborhood that would have been completely expatriate when we were last here, and today we are the ONLY expatriates. This large modern city was only a remote bushy area before they decided to build a capital city here at independence. Yes times have changed!
There are currently four diamond mines here – and at least one is considered the richest gem-quality diamond mine in the world. The others are also high on the list. The country has been blessed with leaders that have struggled hard to build a new democratic nation. The first two presidents were incredible men and without them the country could not have achieved what it did – after all, Africa is full of mineral rich countries that have made many corrupt leaders wealthy. Sixty percent of the government’s income today comes from the joint venture negotiated with DeBeers, the diamond supplier of the world. In Botswana the company is called Debswana. The government has wisely used the income to improve health care, education, and infrastructure for all citizens.
The only cause for concern is what will happen if the diamond market goes south for the long term, which could happen if synthetic diamonds ever become economically viable.
Yes Botswana is one incredible country, and yes diamonds are a country’s best friend.