By Kefiloe Kajane
A sigh of relief may eventually come for the illegal diamond holders who surrendered the gems to the ministry of mining as the stones are to be sold in less than five weeks starting today.
This follows today’s announcement in the National Assembly by mining minister Serialong Qoo that cabinet has approved sale of the stones totaling 492 in possession of the mining ministry.
Of the total number of stones to be auctioned, 140 of them were surrendered by the illegal dealers. The government had issued an amnesty that ended in March this year for submission of the precious stones by the illegal holders
But due to reluctance by the holders to surrender their resources, the legal dealers suggested the government should have extended the grace period for five years
The rest of the diamonds were confiscated by the police from unauthorized personnel. some of whom were arrested, charged and convicted for illegal possession of these valuable stones.
The government, through parliament, last year issued a year and two-month amnesty to the illegal diamonds holders to surrender their gems to the mining department.
According to Qoo, there were 352 diamonds that have been collected since 2001 from people who had them illegally.
He disclosed that money obtained from the surrendered rocks will be given to those who submitted them to the department.
“We had initially said the government will take 4 percent from the profits but we decided that since they handed them in voluntarily, they will get all their dues. The money from the diamonds that have been collected from people who did not hand them in, will go to the government account.
“The ministry has already met with experts that will classify the diamonds according to their value and it is expected that during the auction those who surrendered the stones will be present,” Qoo told the National Assembly.
King Letsie III and prime minister Dr Moeketsi Majoro are to witness the sale.
