The Pan Afrikanist Watchman

The President, Advocate Duma Gideon Boko will travel to Belgium on Monday November 25, 2024 to attend FACETS2024 conference on November 26th and 27th at the Antwerp World Diamond Centre.

Addressing his first Kgotla ‘meet and greet’ meeting in hometown of Mahalapye as President, Boko told residents that he is not going to ‘fight’ but to ‘plead’ and explain that Botswana has diamonds and they must be bought.

Botswana has not sold diamonds ever since early this year, a situation which has adversely affected the country’s fiscal standing.

Compounding matters, the De Beers-Botswana diamond sales contract that was negotiated by the previous administration of former President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi, has not been signed.

Confirming the President’s Monday trip, Press Secretary to the President Emang Bokhutlo-Mutapati said that FACETS2024 conference is an important gathering that brings together experts, retailers, traders, and stakeholders from around the globe to discuss the future of the diamond industry.

She said the President’s participation in the conference underscores the administration’s “unwavering commitment” to supporting and promoting the diamond sector, which has been on the decline.

The conference will provide a valuable platform for dialogue and collaboration among industry leaders and government representatives, addressing the challenges and opportunities facing the diamond market today.

Bokhutlo-Mutapati said that the President looks forward to engaging with esteemed speakers, connecting with global partners, and exploring innovative solutions to benefit the diamond industry.

The President will be accompanied by the minister of foreign affairs Dr Butale Phenyo and some high ranking government officials for technical support as well as media personnel.

Speaking at today’s Kgotla meeting, Boko said believes that once diamond sales resume, government coffers will stabilise and they will be able to deliver the promises his party, Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), made before the October 30 general elections.

These promises include a hike in living wage to P4000, 00; a monthly Old Age Pension pay-out of P1, 800; and student allowance of P2, 500.

Boko told residents that he spends sleepless nights thinking of how these promises are going to materialise since they inherited a government whose financial resources are depleted.

However, he promised that they will not turn back or forget these promises. The President also had a piece of good news to tell residents and Batswana at large.

He said that the giant Choppies retail store has promised that beginning January 2025 they will not be paying any of their workers anything below P4, 000- 00.

Obviously this undertaking by Choppies will encourage and motivate other private sector businesses to also pay this basic minimum wage even before Parliament amends the relevant law regulating Minimum Wages.

(C) TPA2024