Namibia’s state-owned diamond marketing and sales company, Namib Desert Diamonds (Pty) Ltd (NAMDIA), has dismissed its Chief Executive Officer, Alisa Amupolo, with immediate effect following the outcome of an independent disciplinary hearing concluded on 23 September 2025.
The disciplinary process, which began in November 2024, found Amupolo guilty of two counts of gross negligence and one count of gross insubordination.
NAMDIA Board Chairperson Justus Hausiku said the charges related to operational decisions that resulted in financial losses between April and August 2023, as well as in May and July 2024.
“The decision was not taken lightly, but the Board believes it is in the best interest of the company and its success in a complex, competitive and rapidly evolving market,” Hausiku said.
He added that the dismissal was unrelated to the ongoing investigation into the diamond theft that occurred in January 2025 and the suspension that followed in February that year, noting that the disciplinary hearing predated those incidents.
“The Board would like to thank Amupolo for her service since 2022 and wish her well in her future endeavours,” Hausiku said.
According to the Board, Interim CEO Lelly Usiku will continue in the role until a permanent appointment is made.
NAMDIA appointed Alisa Amupolo as CEO on a five-year contract in October 2022, replacing founding CEO Kennedy Hamutenya, whose contract with the diamond company was not renewed.
NAMDIA was established in 2016 following an agreement between the Government of Namibia and De Beers to verify whether the country was receiving fair market value for its diamonds by selling a portion of its production on the open market.
