Image credit: DGMET
Lesotho’s National Assembly has passed a law that grants amnesty to people in possession of illegal rough diamonds should they declare them to the government.The amnesty will be valid until 31 January 2021 and the diamonds declared will be sold locally through an auction, according to The Lesotho Times.
The passing of the Precious Stones (Prevention of Illicit and Theft of Diamonds) Regulations, 2020 was expected to clear illegal diamonds off the black market and paves way for the re-introduction of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) by the government.
"The main purpose of the regulation is to grant amnesty to all persons in illegal possession of diamonds, meaning those without dealers' licenses," said acting chairperson of the Natural Resources, Tourism and Land Cluster Committee Kimetso Mathaba.
"The regulation is also meant to ensure traceability and source of our diamonds to prepare for the upcoming artisanal and small-scale mining."
Small scale diamond mining in Lesotho was first introduced in 1961 at Letšeng-la-Terai and later extended to Hololo, Kao and Liqhobong.
However, the government stopped issuing licences for small-scale mining in 2004 due to safety concerns since the sector was largely informal and unregulated.
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished
