Popular Democratic Movement president McHenry Venaani calls for the suspension of the entire Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia) board of directors and executives.
This is to pave the way for thorough police investigations into the heist that saw diamonds worth about N$300 million being stolen.
Speaking to Desert FM on Wednesday, he called on minister of mines Tom Alweendo to appoint a “caretaker chief executive” in place of Namdia chief executive Alisa Amupolo.
“The head of security must be relieved at this point in time. The chief executive must be relieved and have a thorough investigation into what has transpired. The Namdia board must be relieved,” Venaani said.
He also called for the police to remove officers they suspect of being involved in the heist from the investigation.
Venaani said this should be considered a precautionary measure and that to have an effective investigation, there cannot be people in strategic positions that could be involved.
“When I say suspend the chief executive, it’s for you to have an effective investigation as to what transpired,” he said.
According to Venaani, this heist was well-orchestrated, properly planned, and people in high positions are allegedly involved.
“One can read between the lines that more important senior figures are involved in this thing. . . This thing is a whole planned cartel. It was properly planned, and people in high positions are involved in this thing,” he said.
Venaani said a proper investigation would be able to mitigate the effect the Namdia heist will have on Namibia’s reputation in the global diamond market.
Venaani said he believes the International Criminal Police Organisation needs to be called in with the assistance of countries like South Africa and Botswana which have a number of experience in investigating this kind of diamond theft.
“I don’t think our police itself has the ability and capacity on its own to really investigate a heist of this magnitude and I think we should ask for support,” he said.
He said the country’s Central Intelligence Agency is more involved in protecting and listening to what a president of another country says rather than protecting their state security.
He added that the Central Intelligence Agency cannot be left without a tap on their wrist because they are not effectively executing their responsibility.
“They are sleeping on the job. This is a serious matter of state security and stronger measures must be taken, even by the Central Intelligence Agency,” Venaani said.
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