Namibia has unveiled a 176.29-carat natural diamond recovered by Namdeb, the largest diamond of its kind discovered at the company’s Southern Coastal Mine in Oranjemund in the past two decades.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah unveiled the diamond, named “Owishi”, on Wednesday, saying the discovery presents an opportunity for Namibia to strengthen its position in the global natural diamond market and increase the economic value derived from its mineral resources.
The diamond was recovered from Namdeb’s Southern Coastal Mine on 10 May 2026.
Its unveiling comes as the global diamond industry faces changing consumer preferences, competition from laboratory-grown diamonds and volatility in international markets.
Nandi-Ndaitwah said Namibia should respond by positioning its natural diamonds around their rarity, authenticity, quality and responsible provenance.
“Namibia must continue to position its natural diamonds within the global market by emphasising their rarity, authenticity, quality and responsible provenance,” she said.
“Our diamonds carry a distinctive story of natural heritage, responsible production and a partnership between the Government and the mining industry, particularly Namibia Diamond Trading Company (NDTC) and De Beers Group since 2007. This is the story we must continue to tell even beyond our borders.”
The President said Namibia’s diamond industry is internationally recognised for responsible mining, governance and ethical practices, providing a platform from which the country can strengthen its competitiveness in the global market.
She also called for increased participation further along the diamond value chain, including cutting, polishing and jewellery manufacturing, where commercially viable.
“We ought to equally strengthen our participation in the international diamond value chain by pursuing commercially viable opportunities in cutting, polishing, jewellery manufacturing and other related industries,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.
“Such initiatives should be guided by sound economic considerations, market demand and the availability of appropriate skills and technology.”
She said greater beneficiation of Namibia’s natural resources could support job creation and increase revenue available for public services, including education, healthcare, housing and infrastructure.
Namibia Diamond Trading Company Chief Executive Officer Brent Eiseb said the partnership between the Government and the diamond industry has helped position Namibia in international markets, with the sector focused on maximising the value generated from the country’s diamonds.
“Through our work, we strive to maximise value from the biggest diamonds and translate our country’s natural diamonds into lasting economic and social benefits for present and future generations,” Eiseb said.
“May the precious stone unveiled today remind us that the value of a diamond lies not in its appearance, but also in the lives it touches, the opportunities it creates and the future it helps us to build.”
Eiseb said the industry would continue working with its partners to market Namibian diamonds internationally while promoting their provenance, beauty and integrity.
The discovery comes as Namibia seeks to protect the competitiveness of its natural diamond industry while capturing a greater share of the value generated from its mineral resources domestically.
