Gem Diamonds Transfers Boreholes to Kalahari Communities
RAPAPORT... Gem Diamonds Botswana will transfer four boreholes to residents of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR) at the end of August as part of its outreach surrounding development of its Ghaghoo Diamond Mine in Botswana.
Gem Diamonds recently formed a partnership with a non-profit organization, VOX United, to drill boreholes to provide residents of the CKGR with water. The four boreholes will be handed to the Mothomelo, Metsiamanong, Molapo and Gope residents.
Haile Mphusu, managing director of Gem Diamonds Botswana, said the company is investigating the sustainable viability of various water purification options to ensure that the boreholes will provide potable water to the communities.
Gem Diamond purchased the Ghaghoo mine, previously known as Gope, from De Beers in 2007. The project was the subject of a campaign by Survival International which claimed the CKGR communities were evicted from their ancestral lands to allow for the mine development and denied access to water.
“The borehole drilling program is a part of Gem Diamonds Botswana’s ongoing corporate social responsibility and sustainability program, which is aimed at the development of a lasting, positive legacy through regular, sustained and participative communication and collaboration,” Gem Diamonds stated. “The program will also benefit the local ecosystem as it will provide multiple sources of water at the various settlements in the CKGR.”
via:
http://www.diamonds.net/news/NewsItem.aspx?ArticleID=36728&ArticleTitle=Gem+D...
