the early days18 Oct 2012 21:48
Liqhobong Diamond Cooperative
A Womens Mining Cooperative in Lesotho, South Africa.
Liqhobong is a small diamond mine in the Maluti mountains of Lesotho,
2000m high and around 150 km NW of the capital Maseru. Around 60
people, who spend most of their time working in diamond mining operations,
man it. Most of them worked as migrant workers in South African mines.
Most of these diamond miners have families in other parts of the country
that are dependent on the proceeds of the diamond cooperative.
This group, mainly women, has been working at Liqhobong for around
twenty years and most of its members are nearing retirement age. They
were typically receiving $20 per carat for their rough diamonds; enough to
survive on, but not nearly compensatory in relation to the ultimate value of
the gemstones.
The conditions at the camp are typical of an African mining community; that
is, poor housing, no electricity, little clean water and marginal housing and
sanitary conditions. The government does, however, provide an armed guard
in the village.
The mine produces fancy colored diamonds, although many of them are
small. Canary yellow, blue and pink have been seen and cut from this
source, along with traditional white diamonds.
Mining is accomplished at Liqhobong with the cooperation of the
government. Once a year, an earth moving machine is sent up the mountain
to the mine, a year’s supply of kimberlite is removed from the main shaft
and heaped on the mountainside. Exposure to the elements breaks down the
kimberlite and eliminates the need for rock crushing equipment. The
weathered kimberlite is sluiced and the stones concentrated by sieving.
Women and men then pick the rough diamonds from the sifting pans.
The diamonds are then sorted into parcels and sent to the auction in Maseru,
accompanied by members of the coop. Buyers may view the parcels and
enter bids on those which interest them. They are notified of the results
within several hours.
There is an export office at the ministry of mines, but it does not have
frequent visitors who wish to legally export diamonds. The export tax is 15%
of the purchased price of the stones.
A Fair Trade agreement with the miners was negotiated which included,
among other criteria, a second, value-added payment for the stones, to be
paid upon sale of the gems. It is to be 15% of the clear profit.
The Liqhobong mine is sold to a larger mining company and not
opperative anymore.
Sign In
Follow the stocks
