Young Basotho nationals will benefit from Lets'eng Diamond Mine scholarships as a way of giving back to the nation.

Lets'eng Diamond Mine Resident Director, Mrs. 'Manthethe Maharasoa said the scholarships is just one of the many projects that the mine is carrying out to fulfill the corporate social responsibility towards improving Basotho livelihoods.

She said this is not the first time the mine gives scholarships to students, saying that the first group to receive the offer was in 2006 and their first graduation will be next year.

Mrs. Maharasoa pointed out that her company offers following shortage in natural resources skills in the country, noting that the company needs more people in this field.

At least M45, 000 was raised by the Lets'eng Diamond mine through fund raising held in Mokhotlong in March this year. The money was collected for orphans and vulnerable children of Mokhotlong.

Meanwhile, the government of Lesotho has 30 percent shares in the company’s dividends. The agreement between the government of Lesotho and Gem diamonds was made in 1999.

The first diamond production of the mine was in 2004. In 2007 a 493 carat white diamond was recovered at the mine on September 7, 2007 and was sold in Antwerp on November 14, the same year for US $10.4 million.

The mine is currently producing 60 000 carats a year collectively.

Source: LENA 09/07/2008