How does Botswana, the world’s top diamond producer, ensure sound management of its natural resources and that the revenues from the mining industry benefit the entire population?
In this video interview in the Mokolodi national park in advance of the Annual Democracy Forum 2014 in Gaborone, Botswana, Devex Associate Editor Richard Jones posed the question to Lameck Nthekela, the country’s ambassador to Sweden and a former senior official with the Botswana Export Development and Investment Authority.
The national government, he explained, is the “custodian” of the diamonds, but civil society, nongovernmental organizations and the private sector all have a say in formulating policies and ensuring revenues benefit the people.