Envoy to promote Botswana diamonds in China
Staff Writer | Tuesday April 1, 2014 11:01
Speaking during a visit to Jwaneng Mine last week, Zhuqiang commended the mine for its active role in the international mining space.
“I am very impressed with your mining processes and fascinated by your pit. I commend you for being the biggest diamond producer by value, in the world. This visit has enlightened me more on Botswana’s economic backbone, being the country’s diamonds and I will ensure that I tell the development story of Botswana diamonds to the people of China” he said.
Ambassador Zhuqiang said that although China does not produce diamonds, the market for the natural resources in his country is on the increase.
For his part, the General Manager of Jwaneng Mine, Albert Milton highlighted China’s significance in the diamond pipeline. “China is the second largest diamond market, after the United States of America. About 15% of diamonds sold in China are from Botswana. We at Jwaneng Mine, and indeed the rest of Debswana value this contribution.
As part of the visit, Zhuqiang and his delegation were taken through a tour of the Jwaneng Mine pit and appraised on the mine’s sustainability programmes, including its commitment to Zero Harm, a safety initiative.
Meanwhile, Jwaneng Mine in collaboration with Debswana Technical Services last week also handed over three projects to the Maboane village as part of the company’s Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programme. The three projects were an ambulance and a porta-cabin for the Maboane Clinic as well as play facilities for the Maboane Primary School.
Kgosi Tirelo Motseonageng of Maboane thanked Debswana for the projects, highlighting that the ambulance would help improve service delivery in the clinic and village as a whole.
For his part, the Member of Parliament for Letlhakeng West, Ngaka Ngaka noted that the educational and play facilities donated to the Maboane Primary School will improve the learning capacity of pupils and hence improvement in the school’s performance.
He encouraged the mine to continue working closely with its stakeholders in the identification of sustainable projects that can be implemented for the benefit of the communities around the mine. In his keynote address, the Jwaneng Mine Senior Manager - Sustainability, Tefo Molosiwa emphasised that the gesture is aligned to one of Debswana values, the ‘Show we Care’ value, through which the company pledges to partner with communities to create a legacy of prosperity, sustainability and empowerment. Molosiwa further stated that Health and Education are pivotal areas for the company’s CSI programme, hence the investment in Maboane.
Debswana Group projects manager, Johannes Rademan reiterated that all Debswana Projects have a mandate of leaving a lasting legacy in communities.
He highlighted the partnership between Debswana and institutions like the Jwaneng Technical College and the Gaborone Technical College, which he said, aimed primarily at equipping students at these institutions with sound technical skills to enhance their performances and career paths. Rademan expressed hope that the Maboane Primary School would produce future technical experts who would contribute positively to Botswana’s economy.