Dazzle of world's third largest diamond masks industry doldrums

摘要

On 16 June, Lynette Armstrong, acting CEO of thecountry's leading diamond company, Debswana, visitedState House in Gaborone to present to PresidentMokgweetsi Masisi and first lady Neo Jane Masisi, underthe glare of TV cameras, a rare find: a huge 1,098-caratrough diamond, the largest found by Debswana in itsnearly 54 years of operations, and the third largest everyfound anywhere. Debswana is a 50/50 joint venturebetween the Botswana government and global diamondgiant De Beers.Discovered on 1 June at Jwaneng, the world's mostvaluable diamond mine, the stone is of such rarity thatthe president has decided to accompany it on aninternational promotional tour. Drowned out by thecelebratory fanfare, however, are the off-key notes of afragile industry still nursing the wounds of a disastrous2020.