The direct cost of the slump in global demand for diamonds has resulted in the loss of over 1,900 jobs in Namibia, whose diamond sector has been hard hit by the global economic crisis. There has been a scaling back of operations, which has meant no land operations for January, July, August and September; and [...]
Civil Society Groups Warn Effectiveness of Kimberley Process Compromised
A landmark scheme established in 2003 to prevent trade in conflict diamonds is potentially failing in its objectives, campaigners have said. Ahead of a key meeting of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) in Namibia, a coalition of civil society groups said that despite having all the tools in place, the scheme was failing effectively [...]
South Africa’s NUM Tables Wage Demands with De Beers
South Africa’s National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), which represents the majority of workers at diamond giant De Beers in the country, has tabled its demands with De Beers. The NUM demands that De Beers should offer its employees a 15% wage increment and ensure that the lowest paid workers get a minimum of R5,000 ($623) [...]
NUM Describes De Beers Defeat at Labor Court as ‘Humiliating’
South Africa’s National Union of Mineworkers, which had approached the Labour Court for relief after De Beers served its members with Section 189 notices and retrenched them illegally without following due processes as stipulated in the Labour Relations Act, has described De Beers’ loss in the court as a ‘humiliating defeat’. The NUM held that [...]
Nicky Oppenheimer Speaks of Renewing Africa’s Competitive Spirit
Nicky Oppenheimer, Chairman at De Beers recently spoke at the African Day celebrations at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa. The event was attended by over 350 people, including the Foreign Minister of Ethiopia, Seyoum Mesfin, the Deputy Chair of the Commission of the African Union, Erastus Mwencha, the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, [...]
De Beers and Debswana Donate 10 Million Pula for Community Projects in Botswana
On May 20, 2009, the Diamond Trust a non-profit making entity founded by Debswana and De Beers to fund large scale community projects, signed a P10 million agreement for the implementation of the Tsodilo Hills World UNESCO Heritage Site Management Plan. The Diamond Trust was launched in 2007 and is a vehicle for Debswana [...]
U.S. State Dept Warns Over Counterfeit Guinea KP Certificates
In recent weeks, two attempts have been made to present Kimberley Process Certificates allegedly from the Republic of Guinea for purposes of importation into the United States, warns Brad Brooks-Rubin, the United States Department of State’s Special Advisor for Conflict Diamonds. Following effective due diligence, a U .S. customs brokerage notified the Department of [...]
Business Action for Africa: Accelerating Business-Led Growth and Collective Action
Business Action for Africa recently launched its latest report 2008 MDBs at the midpoint: Accelerating business-led growth and collective action. The Report focuses on the international and national policies needed to drive growth and poverty reduction in Africa. BAA believes that focusing on the factors needed to facilitate entrepreneurship, investment and innovation is the key [...]