Mandela concerned at diamond boycott

Former South African President Nelson Mandela on Wednesday warned that a consumer-led boycott of diamonds could harm the economies of southern African nations, news reports said.

He was quoted as saying: “If there is a boycott of diamonds, the economies of especially two countries, Namibia and Botswana, will collapse and we want to avoid that.” Rights groups such as Britain-based Global Witness have raised the prospect of a consumer boycott against diamonds which they say have helped stoke civil wars in Africa, especially in Angola and Sierre Leone.

“The diamond industry is vital to the South African and southern African economy. We would be concerned that an international campaign on these issues does not damage this vital industry,” Mandela said. “Rather than boycotts being instituted, it is preferable that through our own initiatives the industry takes a progressive stance on human rights issues.”