Debswana Diamond Company’s Orapa, Letlhakane and Damtshaa Mines (OLDM) Managing Director, Mogakolodi Maoketsa, says the company’s contribution in the Boteti district goes far beyond diamond extraction.
Speaking during a recent media tour, Maoketsa described Orapa Mine, located on the AK1 kimberlite, as Debswana’s most valuable asset.
“This is the mine that from day one, when we started mining, we started making money,” he said. “In mining, it takes at least 10 years to start making money, but with this one, it was different because of the nature of the kimberlite.”
The AK1 deposit was the first kimberlite discovered in Botswana in 1967, with operations beginning in 1971. Maoketsa said the mine produced consistently for 29 years before waste mining began, fueling economic growth.
He added that Letlhakane Mine, though under care and maintenance, still has life left, while Damtshaa Mine remains another asset for future development.
“We have to think about the resource development plan, and we temporarily shut down the operations to make sure that we do not flood the market with diamonds, and at the same time, we are preserving cash,” he said.
Beyond mining, Maoketsa highlighted the company’s community impact in Boteti’s 20 villages.
“We impact them differently, and that is why we have a structure where our executives oversee these villages and understand their needs,” he said.
According to Maoketsa, Debswana contributes P30 million annually to community initiatives, with additional support from business partners through events such as the GM’s Walk and Golf Challenge. Employees also participate in a voluntary matching scheme where the company doubles their contributions to local projects.
Last year, OLDM spent about P26 million on community programs, including daily water supply to Letlhakane, eight new preschool classrooms in Rakops, and P12 million on road networks in the region. The company is also refurbishing the theatre at Rakops Hospital.
“This is about livelihood and making sure that people can survive through the work that we do,” Maoketsa said.
