Africa-Press – Botswana. Diamond cutting and polishing company, Stargems Botswana received a pat on the back from President Advocate Duma Boko for the work they have done in investing in the country’s human capital.
Speaking during a presidential visit and graduation ceremony at the Stargems Diamond Training Institute in Gaborone Thursday, President Boko said the work the company had done in training Batswana on diamonds cutting and polishing was laudable.
“The company chose to invest, not just in machines but in the people. Over 1 100 Batswana trained, many of whom are now serving as instructors and supervisors, is clear evidence that skills transfer is taking place,” said President Boko.
He noted that Stargems commitment to the national workforce was evident as out of a workforce of 164 employees, 124 were locals, a 76 per cent local employment mark, adding that work segments such as the bruting department were now led by citizens and that P3.1 million had been allocated to citizens’ bursaries.
While the diamond industry had been besieged by global shocks, demand fluctuations, price instability as well as geopolitical pressures, President Boko expressed the gratitude that Stargems stayed resilient in their Botswana operations.
“Where others scaled down, Stargems held the line. No jobs were lost. A P380 million investment in this facility (training institute and factory) speaks to a bold vote of confidence in the country’s midstream. A monthly net wage of P4 600 is well above the minimum, and sets a new benchmark for dignity in work,” he said.
He said this mirrored Botswana’s transformation from a resource-based economy to an inclusive, value adding and prosperous one in line with the aspirations of the new Botswana Economic Transformation Programme.
President Boko charged the young employees graduating from the training programme to treat the moment as a commencement of the next step of their professional development, to have confidence in their ability and work to shape a better future.
For his part, Stargems Group chief executive officer, Mr Vishal Shah said even with constrained circumstances of the diamond trade, they had been guided by the vision to polish diamonds and unlock value not only from the ground but also from the people.
With prior operations in Antwerp, Belgium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Mumbai, India and Johannesburg, South Africa, Mr Shah said Stargems started operations in Botswana in 2022 and subsequently started courses offered to deserving Batswana at no cost.
Pledging that an additional 1 500 students would be trained over the next three years, Mr Shah said they were developing a future for the industry in the country and its workforce, who were offered decent work with the company having introduced the P4 000 minimum living wage in January.
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