On 18 January 2025 an armed robbery happened at the premises of Namibia Desert Diamonds (NAMDIA), during which an employee of the company lost his life. An alleged robber also died at the scene.
As a result of the armed robbery, apart from the loss of life, the state-owned diamond marketing company was also said to have lost diamonds worth N$314.9 million, of which only N$40.6 million worth of diamonds were later recovered through police investigations.
NAMDIA’s Public Relations and Communications Officer, Ms Beverley Coussement, took some time out to respond to a few questions from Omutumwa’s senior reporter, Mr Victor Angula.
Question (Mr Victor Angula-VA): NAMDIA seems to be quiet lately, no media releases, no adverts in the press, etc. Is the situation still normal at NAMDIA?
Answer (Ms Beverley Coussement-BC): NAMDIA remains fully operational and committed to fulfilling its mandate. The diamond industry is facing a global downturn, which has required us to be more strategic and prudent with our resources.
Accordingly, the number of public engagements, including media releases and advertising is carefully planned in line with our operational priorities and available budget.
Question (VA): Is the CEO back at work, if not how has this affected the operations of the company?
Answer (BC): The CEO is currently on suspension pending the outcome of the ongoing internal investigation. However, this has not affected the company’s operations. An acting CEO is in place and the company continues to ensure business continuity across all departments.
Question (VA): And what is the arrangement in place about the remuneration of the CEO while on suspension? Is she still getting her full salary?
Answer (BC): All matters related to the CEO’s suspension, including remuneration, are being handled in line with NAMDIA’s internal policies and governance procedures. Due to the confidential nature of the process, we are not at liberty to share further details at this stage.
Question (VA): When should the public expect all investigations concerning the armed robbery that took place at the company premises in January to be concluded, and for the CEO to be back at work?
Answer (BC): The investigation into the armed robbery incident of January 2025 is being led by the Namibian Police. NAMDIA continues to cooperate fully with the authorities. As the matter falls under police jurisdiction, any queries regarding progress or timelines are best directed to the Namibian Police.
In the photo: NAMDIA’s spokesperson Ms Beverley Coussement.
