Calls for the closure of Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia) have intensified following a diamond heist worth N$350 million on 18 January, which some claim was an inside job.
Critics, including Republican Party (RP) leader Henk Mudge, say Namdia is plagued by mismanagement and is unnecessary.
The heist, which resulted in the deaths of Namdia security chief Francis Eiseb (57) and Trustco chief operating officer Max Endjala (44), has raised concerns about the company’s security measures, with opposition parties demanding accountability and restructuring.
While some suspect police involvement, others, like the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), urge the suspension of Namdia’s leadership to ensure a transparent investigation.
Namdia maintains its operations are unaffected as investigations continue.
“I cannot understand why a company like Namdia is necessary. It is just another failed management raking in millions of dollars per annum and is not supposed to be there,” Mudge said yesterday.
He said some staff members need to be dismissed.
“As far as I’m concerned, Namdia should be closed down and a significant number of staff should be dismissed,” he said.
Namdia was established in 2016 through a sales and marketing agreement with De Beers with the aim of trading rough diamonds on the global market to help the Namibian government determine the value of its diamonds.
Mudge said the police may be involved in the robbery.
“The whole thing is fishy and nothing is forthcoming. The police are not doing their job and the inspector general should look at this urgently.
“We have so many instances where the police are involved in corrupt dealings and this needs to be stopped immediately,” he said.
SUSPECTS
Three suspects have been identified in connection with the incident: Endjala, his cousin Joel Angula (45) and Sam Shololo (45).
National police spokesperson deputy commissioner Kauna Shikwambi yesterday confirmed the discharge of Shololo from a state hospital in Windhoek.
He allegedly suffered several gunshot wounds during the heist and was hospitalised on the night of the robbery.
Angula appeared in court last week on charges of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, the possession of uncut diamonds and two counts of attempted murder.
The case has been postponed to 23 May for further investigation.
Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) deputy leader Kalimbo Iipumbu yesterday said the government needs to ensure that Namdia falls under the Ministry of Mines and Energy to protect the country’s diamonds.
He said the government has neglected security measures concerning diamonds.
“The robbery is a very big concern that the government did not take seriously the security of our precious stones.”
“The people who are there, the chief executive and director of security, were not adequately capacitated to the danger of keeping the gems. Keeping a gem is not like keeping money under your bed,” Iipumbu said.
He said the robbery must have been well planned.
“This was a game that was planned until these people had to run away with the gems that were supposed to better the lives of the Namibian people. It is a pity that some people lost their lives,” he said.
UNANSWERED QUESTIONS
Inside sources last week told The Namibian the robbery could have taken place on 17 January already.
Iipumbu commented on this, saying: “One wonders what transpired on that day.”
A police docket has been opened, with charges including armed robbery with aggravating circumstances and murder.
Angula, who has made a first court appearance, is a former police officer and cousin of Endjala’s, who is said to have shot himself during the heist.
Angula is also on Namdia’s security team and allegedly escaped to his house with some of the diamonds on 18 January.
He was arrested later that day when he was reportedly found in possession of the diamonds at home.
‘NOT SPECIAL’
Meanwhile, Swapo Party Youth League secretary Ephraim Nekongo said the Namdia robbery is “not special”.
“What is so special about the Namdia robbery? I don’t think it is political. People should do their work and bring those involved down,” he said.
Nekongo said closing Namdia is “a discussion for another day”.
Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) spokesperson Imms Nashinge yesterday said the robbery is a complicated matter.
“We as the IPC don’t know anything and we are not going to comment on it. It is the baby of the police,” he said.
National Unity Democratic Organisation president Esther Muinjangue said she was at her farm when the incident took place.
“I am on my way to Windhoek and will give you our full response later today,” she said.
‘REPLACE CEO’
The Namibian last week reported that PDM president McHenry Venaani called for the suspension of Namdia’s board of directors and executives to pave the way for thorough police investigations.
He called on mines minister Tom Alweendo to appoint a ‘caretaker chief executive’ to replace Namdia chief executive Alisa Amupolo.
“The head of security must be relieved. The chief executive must be relieved and have a thorough investigation into what has transpired. The Namdia board must be relieved,” Venaani said.
He also called for the police to remove officers they suspect of being involved in the heist from the investigation.
Former police inspector general Sebastian Ndeitunga yesterday said some government officials are in bed with criminals.
“It is my view that they did it with inside information or inside cooperation with some individuals who are well-placed in the company,” he said.
“You can see this incident was carefully planned, possibly with individuals who are employees of the company, who may have provided intelligence on the movement of the items inside the company,” Ndeitunga said.
In a media statement last Wednesday, Amupolo said Namdia remains committed to keeping the media updated on the progress and action being taken following the robbery.
The company released this update after a second postponement of a media briefing scheduled to take place last Wednesday.
“Due to ongoing investigations, it was deemed fit for the planned joint media conference to be postponed until an appropriate time.
“We will then be in a better position to provide you with a critical update on the progress of the police and internal investigation,” Amupolo said.
She said the update would include information about how many of the stolen goods had been recovered.
Amupolo said Namdia was working closely with Eiseb’s family to finalise his funeral arrangements.
Namdia’s staff are receiving support and counselling, she said.
“Our business is open and operations have not been affected.”
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