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Namibian, Botswana Presidents Discuss Relocation of Diamond Company

Posted on: Saturday, 19 November 2005, 12:00 CST

Text of report by Namibian television on 18 November

[Presenter] Botswana is consulting other diamond producing countries to support the idea of establishing a diamond trading company in that country. This centre, if established, will see some of the activities of De Beers central selling office, currently located in London, relocated to Botswana. The consultations of diamond trading and processing topped the agenda during the talks between President Hifikepunye Pohamba and President Festus Mogae.

[NBC reporter Paulus Ashipala] At a media briefing following the talks, the two presidents told the media that their discussion did not only centre around diamond trading, but also on issues of common interest. But President Mogae told reporters that diamond supply and processing also dominated their talks. Botswana is negotiating a deal with De Beers for the diamond mining giant to establish a diamond trading company in Botswana for the sorting and supply of rough diamonds to the cutting and processing industry in the region and beyond.

[Mogae] We are saying that some of the activities of the central selling organization regarding southern African diamonds should be produced in the region. In the case of Botswana, we have taken the initiative, then we would like some of the activities that currently take place in London involving South African diamonds, involving Botswana diamonds, involving Namibian diamonds. We would like that some of those activities take place in Botswana.

[Ashipala] However, the success of the establishment of the diamond trading company in Botswana largely depends on whether the diamond producing countries in the region agree to sort diamonds in Botswana.

Issues pertaining to SADC also formed part of their discussions as both presidents occupy influential positions in the SADC [Southern Africa Development Community] body. President Mogae also supported the establishment of the SADC tribunal launched in Windhoek today. It is a SADC institution that has been established because, as a result of consultations and considered collective opinion, it is necessary to fulfil the function in the region of coordinating our activities, investigating certain things which may go wrong and report it to us and enabling us to take appropriate action.

President Festus Mogae returned home shortly after the media briefing.

[Presenter] Meanwhile, President Hifikepunye Pohamba said government was renegotiating with De Beers Diamond regarding the sales agreement that is usually evaluated after every five years. The agreement made De Beers the sole supplier and market of Namibian diamonds to the rest of the world. President Pohamba was responding to questions from the media over the status of the sales agreement whose term ends this year.

[Pohamba] It is true. I want to confirm that, that is the sales agreement, it comes to an end and we, De Beers and the government, they want to extend the agreement, and negotiations have started already.

They are taking place right here in Namibia and the public will be informed of outcome when they are finished.

Source: BBC Monitoring Africa

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