A bitter war of words has erupted between some companies that are involved in the diamond business, and if what we have seen and heard so far is anything to go by, then we are headed for a showdown of seismic proportions.
Accusations and counter-accusations are being thrown around, but a closer look reveals that everyone wants a slice from the diamond pie. Typical of gluttonous and narcissistic capitalists, everyone is looking to fill pockets as much they can.
No one appears to be thinking about the plight of the poor, who also happen to be the real owners of the country’s natural resources.
These are people who monopolise Lesotho’s diamond industry and would kill to protect their interests in the business. Not only that, they also happen to be long-time buddies.
As the cliché goes, when two elephants fight it is the ground that suffers. But it is equally true that when two elephants make love the ground also suffers. The meaning of this? The distribution of wealth in Lesotho leaves much to be desired. There are the extremely poor and these extremely rich comrades who gobble the country’s minerals like there is no tomorrow.
Sadly, the problem is not unique to Lesotho. It is a general African problem. Yet minerals are supposed to be essential raw materials in our daily lives, vital for economic, social and technological development.
But who benefits most from Africa’s natural resources? While Western nations like the United States, Canada, Australia, France and the United Kingdom, as well as emerging economic powerhouses like China continue to exploit Africa’s natural resources, the value from the natural resources goes to the West and East Asia, rather than Africa, exacerbating poverty in Africa.
This must stop.
