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Namibia - in the search of diamonds - 1998

Namibia - in the search of diamonds - 1998

Jacek Pałkiewicz
2006-06-18 22:40:07

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a mistress and live comfortably for the rest of his days. The risk is made all the more inviting by the fact that the penalties for such theft, strangely, are not especially severe.

I was the guest in Namibia of Consolidated Diamond Mines, one of the chief subsidiaries of the famous South African mining group, De Beers, which controls 80% of the world's diamond production. The Oranjemund mines, which are located at the mouth of the river Orange, are the site of the richest diamond deposits in the world. I was interested in the extraction process, but I also wanted to get behind the scenes of the security system. Security was a taboo topic in the company's official speeches. Any enquiry about illicit traffic in diamonds was invariably met with a standard reply "no comment".

It didn't take more than a few days, however, for me to find someone from ouside the mines' fences who was willing to talk about the subject. My first contact was a police informer, who, I am willing to bet, belonged to a gang specializing in handling hot diamonds. A security official on the point of leaving for Europe also talked to me, as did a black waiter who had been working in the area for years.

The word obviously got about that I was interested in this delicate subject because on the third day of my stay I received an alluring proposal, not strictly tied to the subject of my enquiries :"Do you want to set up a deal? I've got twenty gems from half to two carats. I'm offering you the lowest price you'll get. What do you say?", a young African asked me, advising me to sew up the deal before nightfall the following evening.

His proposal would have enabled me to make a 1000% profit on the sum he required. With a few minutes' work two people could make a fortune with such a deal. I began to realize how difficult it is to stay honest in these circumstances.

For this reason, clandestine trafficking in diamonds is ...

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My youngest son was born in Oranjemund in 1972. We left there in 1974 having enjoyed all the facilities there at the time. Many a time my son has expressed a wish to return to his birth place, out of interest,To see his roots. There certainly was a high divorce rate there at that time, but we found it a friendly place. We left our Bull Terrier dog with one of the security families, & often wondered about him. He was called 'Buzzy' & the children missed him loads. Unfortunately the ill health of my mother lead to our return to the uk.A good move...Maybe ....who knows, it was a lovely rugged country, with good education for the younger children, fantastic health provision, & great opportunities to enhance ones status, carreer wise. We never kept in touch with anyone there, but no doubt they have all moved on by now. With the security still so very tight, I dont suppose my son James will ever fulfill his wish. It would be nice though.If there is a possibility, & anyone could help, we can be contacted via 'gsmith404@btinternet.com' Very interesting article.

Pat Smith, 2007-03-28 23:39:34