The Namibian police and customs officials recently refused to allow the state-owned Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia) to ship diamonds worth N$150 million (about $10 million), according to the local media.
The Namibian newspaper reports that police officials allegedly refused to sign off the consignments as two valuation certificates did not accompany the diamonds.
However, the country’s diamond commissioner Miina Auene-Gahutu, who permitted Namdia the export of the diamonds, had to meet police officials, the Namibia Revenue Agency commissioner and other senior government officials to allow the shipment.
The daily alleged that although the shipment of the diamond parcel was later allowed, the incident shows an ongoing struggle for the valuation of Namdia’s diamonds.
The previous valuation was done by Nuska Technologies (formerly C-Sixty Investments), but their five-year contract ended early last month.
There had been calls for Namdia to drop external valuators of its diamonds since they are already valued by the Namibia Diamond Trading Company (NDTC) – a joint venture company between the Namibian government and De Beers.
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished
Exclusive
Ellah Muchemwa: ADPA to launch Africa's first diamond mining standard next year
The African Diamond Producers Association (ADPA), which is based in Luanda, Angola, and represents the interests of mainly African diamond producers and those with the potential to produce diamonds, will next year launch the Sustainable Development...
04 november 2024
Dmitry Fedorov: I want our jewelry to be displayed at a museum in the future
Dmitry Fedorov is the founder of the eponymous jewelry house. His main focus is the creation of Orthodox-inspired premium luxury jewelry of high artistic merit. He told Rough&Polished about his journey in the jewelry industry, about choosing the ‘Orthodox...
28 october 2024
Responsible business practices ‘no longer optional’, says WDC President Feriel Zerouki
The president of the World Diamond Council takes time out of her busy schedule to tell Rough&Polished readers about the critical work of the WDC. Zerouki, the first female present of the body, which includes all the important industry organizations among...
14 october 2024
James Campbell: Botswana Diamonds optimistic as it enters uncharted territory of using AI for mineral exploration
London-listed Botswana Diamonds has expressed optimism about the company’s use of artificial intelligence (AI) to scan the exploration database in Botswana to look for new mineralised deposits. Company managing director James Campbell told Rough...
07 october 2024
Artur Salyakayev: For me, happiness is freedom to make my ideas happen and create valuable products
Artur Salyakayev is an art entrepreneur, founder of the International Jewelry Academy (IJA) and the INCRUA jewelry company. He has initiated and developed successful projects in jewelry industry and services sector. He is also a leading expert...
30 september 2024
