Business
Botswana: A country rises from sleepy backwater to global diamond hub
“We can source rough diamonds in Botswana,” the manager, Kim Lenni, says. “It made sense for us to open a jewellery factory. We’re able to supply the local market and the US from Botswana.”
Other companies – totally unrelated to diamonds – say they’re also seeing a jump in business.
Abel Monnakgotla, who runs a local transport company, AT&T, has 50 buses and runs routes to neighboring South Africa and Namibia.
He has now invested in new, minibuses and says he is earning money by ferrying diamond traders around.
“We have diversified. We have gone into car rentals and airport shuttles,” he says.
“Most of the benefit has previously been at a macro level – infrastructure, roads. But as entrepreneurs we haven’t had a direct benefit. We will now benefit directly.”
There are some broader concerns about the country’s readiness. There are no direct flights to Gaborone from Europe or the United States, meaning journeys to the country have to go through another African city, usually Johannesburg.
