De Beers and the Government of Botswana have enjoyed a stable flirtation since the discovery of diamonds in Botswana in the late 1960S. While this is considered the world’s longest public-private partnership, the relationship has always attracted interest for its secrecy.
In particular, observers have always been intrigued by De Beers influence within the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), wherein the world leading diamond company performed the role of a king maker.
It is known that diamonds provide the largest share of Botswana’s national revenue and contributes the largest share of foreign exchange accumulations. These bespeak the irrefutable importance of diamonds to Botswana’s revenue base.
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