As one of Africa’s major natural resources, diamonds are helping transform southern Africa and the lives of its people. Through diamonds, countries like Botswana, Namibia and South Africa have taken major steps to build a more prosperous future for themselves. 

Diamonds transforming lives 

• World leaders have publicly recognized the value of diamonds for southern Africa: 

• Nelson Mandela: “The diamond industry is vital to the southern African economy” [17th November 1999] 

• Thabo Mbeki,: “We know that diamonds are a valued source of employment, foreign exchange, tax revenue, new investments and play a positive role in enhancing the overall economic well being of countries and local communities” [17th November 2004] 

• President Mogae of Botswana: “For our people, every diamond purchase represents food on the table; better living conditions; better healthcare; safe drinking water; more roads to connect our remote communities and much more” [7th June 2006] 

• President Mogae of Botswana: “We have prudently used the revenues from diamonds to build a modern nation and a vibrant economy” [7th June 2006] 

• President Mogae of Botswana: “It is thanks to diamonds…that we have seen our country transform from one of the poorest in the world at Independence, to the middle income status that it has now attained” [7th June 2006] 

• President Mogae of Botswana: “I urge you to continue supporting us by buying more and more diamonds because for us the joy of your celebrations with diamonds is also our joy” [7th June 2006] 

• President Mogae of Botswana: “There can be no doubt that diamonds have played a major part in the transformation of our country’s fortunes and the lives of our citizens…Revenue from diamonds has enabled Government to fund virtually 100% of basic education, provide virtually free healthcare, build the infrastructure that has supported our economic activity and to fund 80% of the anti-retroviral drugs that have given hope to our fellow citizens living with HIV/AIDS” [13th November 2006] 

• President Mogae of Botswana: [He finds] “suggested existence of African conflict diamonds, as opposed to diamonds illicitly traded from this or that particular area of conflict, unsettling… diamond revenues have, for the most part, been a welcome source of finance for improved education, health care, and social services, not only in Botswana but elsewhere on the continent.” [22nd August 2007]