STAFF WRITER
NAMIB Desert Diamonds (NAMDIA) says recent posts on social media questioning the company’s security protocols , governance practices and the appointment of a security consultant are unsubstantiated.
A statement released by the Company’s,Public Relations & Communications Officer Beverley Coussement on Saturday said NAMDIA has implemented critical security upgrades following
the armed robbery that claimed lives and resulted in the loss of precious stones worth about N$280 million in January.
“While specific details cannot be disclosed for security reasons, these measures were executed urgently under the Public Procurement Act, which permits emergency procurement in critical situations. All decisions relating to these upgrades were taken in the best interest of protecting staff, product and premises, and in alignment with international best practices,” she said.
She said the Board engaged and appointed a security consultant to stabilise the department and oversee the immediate implementation of necessary enhancements after the horrific experience which others have termed the worst diamond heist in Namibia.
She said the appointment was driven by the urgent need for specialised expertise and forms part of the broader risk mitigation strategy.“Prior to this appointment, security services had been provided by Neldan, a Namibian-registered
company with operations in several countries, including Angola. That contract, however, had cometo its natural conclusion, creating a gap that further underscored the need for a more strategic and
expert-led security approach,” she said.
The company said NAMDIA continues to prioritise stability, operational continuity and accountability and remains committed to cooperating fully with all ongoing processes, safeguarding Namibia’s diamond resources and upholding the highest standards of corporate
governance.“Namib Desert Diamonds (Pty) Ltd Above all, our employees’ well-being remains a top priority. Since the incident, staff have been provided with access to professional counselling support.“We, therefore, urge the public and media to exercise caution and refrain from spreading unverifiedinformation, as this could compromise law enforcement efforts and mislead the public,” she said.
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