A few years ago there was talk that diamond mines owned by Debswana Diamond Company were approaching the end of their lifespan.
Initially estimates put that at 2020 before revising to 2030 and ultimately to 2050.
In a normal society, these estimates should have sent shivers across the nation.
By now there should be in place discernible public debates on what happens after diamonds.
That sadly has not been the case.
Like stability, long term certainty at Debswana means a lot for the country. Such certainty provide all the necessary surefire needed for the nation and country sustenance.
For Botswana, the depletion of diamonds is much more than a political or economic risk. It spells an Armageddon unless of course contingencies are put in place.
Even then the optics are not encouraging given that diamonds have long surpassed their prime in that they no longer sell the way they used to. And worse, getting them off the ground has now become much more expensive and look set to get worse..
As a country we failed to prepare for an era beyond diamonds.
Money from diamonds should have been used to create other industries that would reduce over-dependence on diamonds.
Our addiction to diamonds is something we have totally failed to kick off.
Time is certainly not on our side. But it does not hurt to try and do some playing in with the little time and resources now left.
Inaction is the symptom not cause of our problems as a country.
The root cause of our troubles has been a lack of political goodwill.
Somehow and against all advice our leaders have believed that diamonds were forever.
And that Debswana will continue churning them out.
In that way, other than being a boon diamonds have in a bizarre way been a curse to Botswana.
Finding and establishing an alternative to diamonds today will be harder than it would have been the case doing so years back.
It will be yet much harder to do so if we leave it for the longer future down the line.
Leaving it to the end will be a sure way to create a bigger crisis than the one we already in ÔÇô economically speaking.
This is looking at the fact that even as things stand today, as an economy we do not have easy turns to make.
Taking fast and big decisions, with far reaching consequences under pressure is never an easy thing.
It can also be a recipe for disaster.
There will certainly not be another Orapa, certainly not another Jwaneng.
What happens at Debswana matters most because of the company’s strategic importance to the country.
Debswana is easily the most important company in Botswana.
In fact Botswana is what it is today largely because of what Debswana has been.
To Botswana Debswana is much more than just a company.
It is an economic symbol.
The company is a source of pride, money and livelihood.
Debswana’s health is intrinsically linked to the country’s economic wellbeing.
Debswana it seems is ready to play its part to help provide the capital that is necessary for economic diversification.
The question though is whether or not we have national leadership in place that has the fortitude to channel such capital where it is needed.
Whatever decision our leaders ultimately take, it is important to continually remind them that it is only a matter of fact before events get out of their control.
