Representatives of Gem Diamonds, which has recently been granted a license to develop the Gope diamond deposit in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, has met with members of the Botswana National Front (BNF) to discuss the company's work in the CKGR, the Botswana Gazette reports.

BNF publicity secretary Moeti Mohwasa said that as a political party that had been "at the forefront" of the struggle for the rights of the Basarwa – the indigenous people of the Kalahari, also known as the Bushmen – the BNF was pleased to learn of Gem Diamonds' plan to set up a special fund for the empowerment of the Basarwa communities in and around the CKGR.

According to the Gazette, the fund will examine possibilities for sustainable projects to be managed at the outset by representatives of the local communities in conjunction with Gem Diamonds. Once the projects are up and running, the company intends to transfer full responsibility to the Basarwa.

Moreover, Mohwasa said, Gem Diamonds said it would take steps to ensure that the Basarwa continued to enjoy beneficiation even after diamond mining in the area ended.

The Gope diamond deposit contains an estimated 20.5 million carats of diamonds with a value of some $3.3 billion, with a projected annual production potential of 1 million carats per year.