DE BEERS made a donation to Botswanas High Court during the week of September 10 of BWP 100,000 (about $17,000.) The funds were provided for a fundraising initiative for the High Courts library for research work.According to De Beers spokeswoman Lynette Hori the library is used by the judges to research subject matter on cases appearing before them from time to time.
%%When the donation was made, some press reports in Botswana pointed out that the Botswana Mine Workers Union (BMWU) took issue with the donation. The BMWU secretary general Jack Tlhagale reportdly said that the donation should have been made to a ministry and not directly to the High Court. Tlhagale was concerned in particular about a case the High Court is hearing between union employees and Debswana.%%Notably Hori also opines that De Beers rejects completely the suggestion that the donation aims to influence the decisions of the courts on matters of this companys interest. Godfrey Nthomiwa, register of the High Court, opined that the De Beers donation would not have an influence on the court.