Patience Makwele
The minister of home affairs, immigration, safety and security, Lucia Iipumbu, says the investigation into the diamond that took place at Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia) in January last year will remain classified.
The armed robbery at Namdia’s headquarters in Windhoek resulted in the theft of diamonds estimated at N$315 million.
She said details of the case cannot be made public while investigations continue.
“Details surrounding the case remain classified and will only be made public once investigations are concluded,” she said, adding that early disclosure could affect operations.
She said the case is still active and that the ministry is receiving updates from law enforcement.
“The case is still ongoing. The investigations are continuing. We are receiving reports, but security reports are classified. Once they are ready for public disclosure, we will update the nation,” Iipumbu told parliament on Wednesday.
Her remarks came after questions from Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader and member of parliament McHenry Venaani, who asked for clarity on the value of stolen diamonds, recovery progress and the lack of updates.
“We were told about N$40 million worth of diamonds being recovered. Now we are quiet about this case. Where are we?” Venaani asked.
Venaani said the matter requires accountability to Parliament and raised concerns about a dispute involving G4S.
“There must be accountability to Parliament. We are dealing with a matter of national importance,” he said.
Those arrested in the matter include former Namdia security officer Joel Angula, who was denied bail and Sam Shololo. Former G4S guard Samuel Shipanga has also been linked to the investigation.
Three months ago, a Namdia employee was arrested in connection to the matter.
The matter is before the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court and has been postponed to June 2026 for further investigations.
At the back of it, Namdia is suing G4S for more than N$300 million in damages as a result of the robbery.
Security analyst Sikwela Anderson Matengu said Parliament’s questions reflect pressure for oversight.
“When cases involve strategic mineral assets and public institutions, silence can become politically costly even if it is legally justified,” Matengu said.
He said the case is complex and may involve internal and external actors.
“This is not a simple robbery. It is a layered investigation involving possible insider facilitation, which explains the cautious flow of information,” he said.
He warned that limited public updates may affect trust.
“Even when investigations are progressing, the absence of visible milestones creates a perception gap between institutions and the public,” he said.
