A monthly deep dive into Africa's biggest stories through a Bloomberg lens. Global investors see the continent as one of the top areas for opportunity and growth, and some African nations are well-positioned to be global hubs for development. This show will discuss key steps taken to help deliver on Africa’s quest of bridging the gap with global powers, and track capital flows and the direction of funds amid the underlying political, economic and social developments.
Next Africa: Can Botswana Survive the Lab-Grown Diamond Boom?
Next Africa
Can Botswana Survive the Lab-Grown Diamond Boom?
Botswana became one of the richest countries in Africa because it's the world's biggest producer of diamonds by value -- but with lab-grown gems soaring in popularity, the sparsely-populated desert nation is facing a social and economic existential crisis President Boko has pledged to diversify the economy away from its over-reliance on a single resource, but the changes may have come too late. On this week’s episode, Bloomberg’s Matthew Hill and Botswana-based reporter Mbongeni Mguni join Jennifer Zabasajja to discuss their latest reporting from the region, and what the impact of the diamond slump looks like on the ground in Botswana. For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter here
Sep 05, 2025