INTERVIEW:  Wellington Mpandi, Vice President, African Diamond Manufacturers Association

“ADMA and the African Diamond Council are actively working to refine regulatory policies in member countries to create favourable conditions, including tax incentives, promoting specialized diamond zones, import/export reductions, lower production costs to reestablish Africa as a significant manufacturing hub and attract new entrants in the process,” emphasises Wellington Mpandi, Vice President, African Diamond Manufacturers Association.

A diligent and dynamic diamond professional, Wellington Mpandi is a highly respected consultant and industry leader. He is the Vice President of the South African Young Diamond Beneficiators Guild and the incumbent Vice President of the African Diamond Manufacturers Association.

As a seasoned executive, Wellington is a South African Diamond Dealers Club member and has held director positions at various diamond manufacturing firms. His commitment to the industry extends beyond business, as demonstrated by his voluntary contributions to the Social Responsibility Committee, where he plays a pivotal role in shaping ethical and sustainable industry practices.

With deep industry expertise and a strategic mindset, Wellington is a first-generation Diamantaire known for his strong advocacy for emancipation, beneficiation and skills transfer. He is particularly dedicated to enhancing the upstream and downstream sectors of Africa’s emerging mining markets, ensuring long-term sustainability and competitiveness.

Recognized as a next-generation industry leader, Wellington advises organisations in private and public sectors and also mining consultants across Sub-Saharan Africa. His advisory work focuses on regulatory compliance, environmental safety, public-private partnerships, and youth empowerment—key areas for fostering responsible growth and development in the sector.

With a keen understanding of the risks and challenges faced by corporations, governments, and local businesses in remote diamond mining regions, Wellington is a strategic thinker committed to driving positive change and innovation in Africa’s diamond industry.

Here, in an Exclusive Interview with Precious World, WELLINGTON MPANDI presents his observations and thoughts on the African diamond sector with great flair!

Some excerpts …

As a diamond professional, what is your experience in the industry? In which different areas were you associated with and gathered experience? Give more details to help us understand your expertise in the diamond sector.

I have acquired comprehensive exposure to the entire diamond value chain and gained various insights at each stage over the years. However, I remain a dedicated merchant at heart. Part of my focus is to help in expanding Africa’s diamond manufacturing sector, advocating for improved policies, and promoting local beneficiation. My commitments involve collaborating with industry stakeholders, including governments, manufacturers, and trade organizations, to drive growth, foster dialogues, and ensure sustainability within the sector.

As the Vice President of the African Diamond Manufacturers Association currently, what steps will be taken by the Association to give more impetus to the manufacturing sector? Do you foresee major growth in the African manufacturing sector in the coming years? 

Africa possesses significant potential for growth in diamond manufacturing due to various factors such as the strong commitment from key stakeholders to enhance beneficiation programs, adoption of advanced technology, infrastructure readiness, and improved skillsets. With continued investment, better governance, and stronger collaboration within the industry, the sector is expected to experience substantial growth in the coming years. ADMA strongly encourages expatriates in manufacturing to share their knowledge and expertise with local colleagues in host countries, and similarly urges locals to reciprocate. Additionally, ADMA and the African Diamond Council are actively working to refine regulatory policies in member countries to create favourable conditions, including tax incentives, promoting specialized diamond zones ( e.g.  Saurimo DDH in Angola, OR SEZ in South Africa ) and import/export reductions, aiming to lower production costs to reestablish Africa as a significant manufacturing hub and attract new entrants in the process.

You are reportedly associated with many other diamond clubs like South African Young Diamond Beneficiators Guild, African Diamond Manufacturers’ Association etc.How do you intend to grow the sector by using your expertise with them?

My involvement with various industry organizations, such as the South African Young Diamond Beneficiators Guild, strategically positions me and other leaders to facilitate dialogues and advocate for increased industry participation among young and emerging diamond entrepreneurs throughout the value chain. Historically, there have been challenges that significantly impeded African diamond businesses. As current leaders, we are actively engaging with relevant stakeholders in Africa and beyond to reshape the industry so that it equitably represents all participants at every stage, from production to Executive levels. We are proud that as the South African Young Diamond Beneficiators’ Guild we produced the first black De Beers SightHolder in history, demonstrating that our initiatives do yield commendable outcomes.

Having worked at various diamond manufacturing firms, how do you intend to use your expertise and connections for the betterment of the diamond sector on the whole?  In which areas do you think improvement can be brought about in the now progressing African diamond sector?

My experience in diamond manufacturing and leadership roles within industry organizations provides me with a distinct advantage in understanding the challenges faced on the ground, as well as recognizing the lack of initiative to address them at governance or organizational levels. Infrastructure and supply chain inefficiencies, along with rigid and outdated regulatory policy frameworks, are KEY areas that require significant refinement and improvement. As industry leaders, we can only achieve success in overcoming these challenges if we work collaboratively, communicate effectively and choose results over relevance for the diamond industry’s benefit.

Besides mining, what other areas can Africa’s diamond sector be improved to focus on achieving maximum benefit for the continent in general? Your views on modernising the sector in general?

In addition to mining, Africa’s diamond sector can be enhanced in several key areas to optimize benefits for the continent. These enhancements require efforts from both public and private sectors to ensure that more value is retained locally, create jobs, and position Africa as a global leader in diamond and jewellery manufacturing, trading, and support services. Modernization is crucial for maintaining Africa’s competitiveness and sustainable relevance in the global diamond industry. Elements such as the adoption of advanced technology in mining can improve diamond recovery and sizes, while AI-driven sorting and grading systems can enhance precision and efficiency. For instance, Authentia has made notable progress in blockchain and traceability initiatives in Africa. We are already within 4IR and we have no choice but to adapt.

Do artisanal miners come under your purview? How do you associate yourself with that section? Also, what changes could be brought about in the mining sector especially to prevent accidents and loss of lives that are prevalent these days? Your thoughts?

As the African Diamond Manufacturers Association, our primary focus is on manufacturing and beneficiation. However, artisanal miners also play a critical role in the diamond supply chain. Unfortunately, the lack of formal structures and establishments to train and educate artisanal small-scale miners (ASMs) on safety and hazard prevention has led to a loss of lives over the years. Introducing basic concepts such as community-based safety officers in informal mining zones for monitoring, and providing protective gear at reduced prices, can alleviate damage and reduce casualties. In my encounters, I always encourage artisanal miners to form cooperatives that will enable them to access government and private sector support. Very few global diamond organizations have projects aimed at helping artisanal miners, and this is a concern. If neglected, this issue can potentially tarnish the image of natural diamonds.