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Lab-Grown Gems Are Robbing Botswana of Its Diamond Riches

Botswana, once a thriving nation due to its diamond wealth, now faces a severe economic crisis as the diamond market collapses, leading to widespread social and financial challenges.
Diamonds Botswana
The market for natural diamonds is in crisis, with cut-price lab-grown equivalents hitting demand particularly hard in the US, the biggest market for the gems. (Getty Images)
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BoF PROFESSIONAL

Across Botswana the lines of patients outside government clinics are lengthening, construction companies dependent on state jobs are firing workers and university students are threatening to boycott lectures after not getting the allowance increases they were promised.

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