At 16, she was a policy volunteer. Today, Bogolo Joy Kenewendo is the economist rewriting the rules for De Beers and her country's diamond trade. In this exclusive interview, Botswana's visionary leader reveals why the "Diamond Era" is shifting—and how the country is racing to unearth a 70% unexplored frontier of critical minerals.

We sit down at the 2026 Mining Indaba in Cape Town to discuss Botswana's seismic economic pivot under President Duma Boko. As the global market faces a diamond slump, Minister Kenewendo outlines a radical new strategy: moving beyond raw extraction into downstream beneficiation, regional power interconnectors, and the unearthing of green minerals like copper, nickel, and manganese. From the future of the De Beers partnership to the reality of Africa’s energy crisis and the "Kalahari Copper Belt," she outlines how she plans to navigate geopolitical turbulence while protecting Botswana's most valuable assets.

Chapters:

0:00 | The Diamond Dilemma: Why the monolith economy must pivot

1:15 | The 70% Frontier: Unearthing Africa’s hidden minerals

2:48 | Critical Minerals: Copper, Manganese, and the Green Revolution

4:20 | Regional Collaboration: Mining in Zambia, DRC, and Sierra Leone

5:50 | The Beneficiation Mandate: Why jewellery must be made in Botswana

8:01 | The Career Trajectory: From youth delegate to Minister

11:00 | Leading in a Male-Dominated Industry: “I stand my ground”

12:45 | The New Social License: Beyond CSR and "School Shoes"

14:30 | Nature Regeneration: Finalizing the new ESG policy

16:03 | President Duma Boko’s Vision: Urgency and Diversification

18:20 | Energy Security: The 500MW push for industrialization