World’s Second-Largest Ever Diamond Unearthed in Botswana
Southern Africa is home to the world’s largest diamond discovery in terms of individual size. In 1902, a 3,106-carat Cullinan diamond was discovered in South Africa, which was later cut and mounted on the sceptre with the Cross of the Crown Jewels (what the king of the United Kingdom put on his head).
The crown jewels of the British monarch
Lucara Diamond, a Canadian company that mines diamonds in Botswana, made the discovery. The diamond is 2,492 carats and was unearthed in the Karowe mine, about 500 kilometres from the capital Gaborone. In 2019, at the same mine, a 1,758-carat was found. In 2016, a 1,109-carat diamond unearthed at the same mine sold to London jeweller Laurence Graff for $53 million. The current size exceeds the 2016 find by more than twice; therefore, it could hit $140 million when adjusted against inflation.
Why can’t Botswana mine its own diamonds? The better question is, why can’t Africa mine its natural resources? After over six decades of independence, Africans should have learned to do this themselves. Lucara would remit a meagre 25% to the government of Botswana—ridiculous!
Every time the king of the United Kingdom wears the crown jewels, he shames the United Kingdom for donning stolen diamonds mined by tortured and suppressed indigenous South Africans who never invited them into their lands. The diamonds on the crown jewels belong to the indigenous people of South Africa and should be returned.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom
By Ikechukwu ORJI
