A 1111-carat diamond recovered by Lucara Diamond Corp,. has been christened ‘Lesedi La Rona,’ which means ‘Our Light.’
The company made the announcement after a contest to name the stone.
“The outpouring of pride and patriotism shown by all the participants in the contest was incredible,” said Lucara CEO and president William Lamb. “The diamond industry has played a vital role in the country’s development, allowing for significant and ongoing investment in world-class healthcare, education, and infrastructure. ‘Lesedi La Rona’ symbolizes the pride and history of the people of Botswana.”
The winner, Thembani Moitlhobogi, received a prize of 25,000 Pula ($3100 Cdn.).
Recovered from Lucara’s Karowe Mine, the Type IIa diamond is the biggest ever found in Botswana and the second largest in the world. The competition was open to all Botswana citizens, including the company’s Batswana employees. Entrants were invited to submit their suggested name and rationale for their choice. More than 11,000 entries were received.
Lucara retained Ernst & Young to ensure transparency and independence during the name-selection process. The judging panel consisted of five executives from both Lucara and the Karowe Mine.
