Not forever: Botswana, conflict diamonds and the Bushmen

It has been said that diamonds are Botswana's best friend, but with the rise of the 'conflict diamonds' issue in international politics, spurred on in the main by non-governmental organizations, Botswana has felt compelled to go on the offensive to persuade the diamond-buying public that its diamonds are 'clean' and legitimate. This 'Diamonds for Development' project has in recent months been one of the main planks of Botswana's foreign policy. However, a parallel NGO campaign around the issue of the San Bushmen has emerged that, based on perceptions linking diamonds to the removal of the San from their homes, threatens Gaborone's image as a producer of 'clean' diamonds.¹ This article attempts to explain the dynamics behind these two issues currently bedevilling Botswana's relations with the outside world.