Botswana has assured that it is not contemplating nationalising mining operations or buying out private mining investors to ensure local ownership of the sector. Doing so would diminish the attractiveness of the mining sector to potential investors and lead to divestment by existing investors, Minerals, Energy and Water Minister Kitso Mokaila said recently. He was responding to a question from a Parliamentarian who sought clarity on whether the Botswana government planned to push for local ownership of the mining sector. The MP made particular reference to Debswana, a 50:50 joint venture between diamond major De Beers and the Botswana government.
