Botswana Diamond Valuator Contract Ends in May

Ponatshego Kedikilwe, Botswana’s Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, said the contract of the government diamond valuator will end on May 31.

Kedikilwe said a tender for the services was published, but that he is considering withdrawing it in light of the preliminary results of a strategic review study of the mineral sector presented to his ministry on March 17.

According to the minister, the seven-year contract will cost the government about P287 million ($37 million).

He expressed dissatisfaction that only two of the employees working for the current diamond valuator are Batswana.

“I would like more to qualify for the posts as that would be in keeping with localization, skills transfer and diamond beneficiation,” he told the BOPA news agency.