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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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is enjoying a boom, despite the most strenuous efforts to stop it. At Windhoek Mr. Clive Cowley, head of public relations for CDM, had revealed to me that 10% of their production finished on the black market. At the time it seemed a great deal to me, but I later came to the conclusion that his estimate was accurate.
"At our mines the proportion of gems stolen is usually about a tenth", a security officer confirmed, "although there are ups and downs in the success of our operations. One small satisfaction is that we do better than the mines in Sierra Leone, where they lose five times as much, half their overall production, in other words". In Sierra Leone the high incidence of corruption, the weakness of the local government and, above all, ease of access to the mines, which are in the midst of 200 square miles of jungle, mean that illegal diggers get away with a significant quantity of stones every year.

In Namibia CDM has absolute right over the Restricted Diamond Area, a protected territory which is 550 kilometers in length and 100 kilometers wide. Unauthorized access is prohibited to the whole area. There are only three well-guarded gates by which it is possible to enter. At Oranjemund, one can enter from the south by way of the bridge leading to South Africa, from the north, near the abandoned Luderitz mine, from the east at Rosh Pinah, a small village on the edge of the Namib desert.

My own entrance permit was obtained by the direct intervention of the big boss, the executive director of CDM, Mr Abel Gower. I was to present myself at the east gate, some 15 kilometers from Rosh Pinah, at 7.45 in the morning. I was told not to arrive late :"We earnestly advise you to be punctual since the truck which will escort you across the desert cannot wait for your arrival", I had been informed in Winghoek.

I arrived a quarter of an hour early. Considering that I had driven 1000 kilometers over dirt roads to get there, this was Swiss precision ...

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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