Namdia Suspends CEO and Other Execs After Deadly Robbery

By Rob Bates | February 20, 2025

Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia), the diamond sales company owned by the government of Namibia, has temporarily suspended its CEO and two other executives in the aftermath of a brazen robbery last month when a company employee was killed.

A statement from Namdia’s board said the decision to suspend CEO Alisa Amupolo, chief operations officer Uahoroka Kauta, and security manager Paulinus Sheyapo was “not taken lightly,” but “the investigation and recovery processes must now run its course.”

On Jan. 18, four armed men breached the company’s headquarters in Windhoek and stole a still-undetermined number of gems. Francis Eiseb, 56, a senior protection officer for Namdia, was killed during the ensuing firefight.

One of the alleged robbers died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound during the incident, Namdia said. He has been identified in local news reports as Max Endjala, formerly Namibia’s top-ranked men’s squash player and more recently the chief operations officer for a local corporation. Two other suspects—including a Namdia security officer identified as Endjala’s cousin—are now in police custody, while the fourth man remains at large.

“At this stage we have no reason to suspect any Namdia employees apart from the suspect already in custody,” said the board’s statement. “The Namdia board has decided to take this urgent precautionary step [of suspending the executives] in the business’ best interests as well as to protect the integrity of both the executives and the investigation. As we chart a course through these tragic events, the investigation and recovery process must be concluded as quickly as possible.”

Lelly Usiku has been appointed Namdia’s interim CEO. An economist, Usiku has previously served as the company’s chief executive. Replacements for the other executives were not announced.

Top: Namdia headquarters in Windhoek, Namibia (photo courtesy of Namdia)