Johannesburg, South Africa -- Botswana and southern African peers that built much of their prosperity on diamonds are scrambling for alternatives as cheaper, lab-grown stones threaten their economies. Diamond-dependent Botswana is leading the way and launched a sovereign wealth fund this week to lay the "foundation for a more resilient,...
Botswana inks new deal with De Beers
GABORONE, BOTSWANA - Botswana has reached an eleventh-hour deal with diamond giant De Beers after months of tense negotiations that saw the continent's top producer threatening to cut ties with the storied company. The Botswana government and Anglo-American, the majority owner of De Beers, have reached an "agreement in principle", the...
Arab countries ban travel from African nations
The United States and several European countries have taken similar steps, banning travel from at least seven southern African countries. South African Health Minister Joe Phaahla told reporters that he felt some of the reactions to the new Covid-19 variant that was found in South Africa were ‘unjustified.’
