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By: Ulla Setswalo
Some diamonds are valuable for their size while others carry a story that makes their rarity even more distinctive. Namibia’s newly unveiled 176.29 carat natural diamond, named “Owishi”, brings both qualities together as the country seeks to strengthen the global story around its natural stones. Meaning a rare form of honey found underground in Oshiwambo and notoriously difficult to locate, Owishi was discovered by NAMDEB on 10 May 2026 at the Southern Coastal Mine in Oranjemund. It is the largest diamond of its kind recovered at the site in two decades.
President Netumbo Nandi Ndaitwah officially unveiled the stone, describing the discovery as a significant milestone and a source of national pride while underscoring mining’s contribution to Namibia’s economic development. The unveiling comes as the global diamond industry navigates changing consumer preferences, price volatility and intensifying competition from laboratory-grown diamonds, putting greater emphasis on the provenance, rarity and authenticity of natural stones.
Against this backdrop, Nandi Ndaitwah commended Namibia’s diamond industry for its internationally recognised commitment to responsible mining, ethical practices and environmental stewardship. She noted that the country’s peaceful and constitutionally anchored environment continues to provide a stable foundation for sustainable investment in the mining sector.
The President called on industry players to strengthen the international positioning of Namibian diamonds by communicating their distinctive story of authenticity, ethical provenance and natural rarity, while demonstrating how the sector contributes to the country’s development. She also highlighted Namibia’s 50/50 partnership between the Government and De Beers Group as an example of how public-private cooperation can harness natural resources for national benefit.
Looking ahead, President Nandi Ndaitwah urged the industry to deepen Namibia’s participation across the global diamond value chain, with greater emphasis on commercially viable domestic cutting, polishing and jewellery manufacturing. Her message was that the value of Namibia’s natural resources must ultimately be reflected in the lives and opportunities of its people. The wealth beneath the country’s soil, she stressed, must translate into shared prosperity for all Namibians.
