GEMS

I liked the article “Gem of an Idea”. It was nice to read about the small country of Botswana and its success in helping its people get out of poverty. Most countries in Africa are not like this. Most are at war, have poor leaders and much governmental corruption. Botswana is different. First, it is the world’s biggest producer of diamonds. This small country has brought 1.9 million people out of poverty. The leaders there think to the future and to the development of their country. The country and the world’s largest mining company of DeBeers have worked together for decades as 50-50 partners. This partnership is called Debswana. Now also DeBeers has moved its diamond-sorting and valuing operation from London to the capital of Botswana, Gaborone. This will help create 3,000 more jobs in Botswana. The author insists that the reason this small nation is doing so well is because they have good leadership and are good role models for other nations. Botswana believes in itself and not in foreign aid. Foreign aid causes more problems than it helps.