Staff Reporter
PRESIDENT Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has unveiled the 176.29-carat “Owishi” diamond recovered by Namdeb at its Southern Coastal Mine in Oranjemund, describing the discovery as a source of national pride and an opportunity to strengthen Namibia’s position in the global natural diamond market while increasing local value from the resource.
The diamond was recovered on 10 May 2026 and is the largest diamond of its kind recovered at the Southern Coastal Mine in the past two decades.
The diamond was named “Owishi”, an Oshiwambo term referring to a rare form of honey found underground that is notoriously difficult to locate. Its rarity and difficulty of discovery were cited as fitting the significance of the diamond.
During the unveiling on Wednesday at the Namibia Diamond Trading Company (NDTC) Building in Windhoek, Nandi-Ndaitwah emphasised the role of mining as a key contributor to Namibia’s economy and development.
She said the discovery reinforces Namibia’s standing as a producer of high-quality, gem-grade natural diamonds, while highlighting the need for the country to distinguish its diamonds through their authenticity, ethical provenance and natural rarity.
The unveiling comes as the global diamond industry faces changing consumer preferences, fluctuations in international prices and growing competition from laboratory-grown diamonds.
Nandi-Ndaitwah commended Namibia’s diamond industry for its commitment to responsible mining, ethical practices and environmental stewardship.
She said Namibia’s peaceful and constitutionally anchored environment provides a stable foundation for sustainable investment in the mining sector.
The President also highlighted the 50/50 partnership between the Government and De Beers Group as an example of public-private cooperation in harnessing the country’s mineral resources for national development.
Looking ahead, she called for Namibia to strengthen its participation across the global diamond value chain by expanding commercially viable domestic activities in diamond cutting, polishing and jewellery manufacturing.
Nandi-Ndaitwah said Namibia’s natural diamonds should be positioned more prominently on the international market by highlighting their unique story and contribution to national development.
She emphasised that the value of Namibia’s natural resources should ultimately be measured by their contribution to improving the lives of Namibians, with the wealth beneath the country’s soil translating into shared prosperity.
Photo: Namibian Presidency
