Zacharias Lewala

Zacharias Lewala (fl.1908) is considered to be the one who triggered a diamond noise in the area of Lüderitz with its founding of a rough diamond on the today's northern border of the diamond area of Lüderitz in the then colony of German South West Africa, now Namibia.

Lewala came from southern Africa and was a worker in a diamond mine in Kimberley , where he gained experience in the recognition of rough diamonds. Later he worked under his superior August Stauch at the maintenance of the Lüderitz railway . On April 10, 1908, when he was scouting near the railway station at Grassplatz near Kolmanskop , he discovered several stones in which he suspected diamonds. He dutifully handed it over to Stauch and said: "Look, Mister, moy Klip (beautiful stone)." Stauch sent it to the analysis at Swakopmund and secured a claim in the area. As a result, Stauch earned a fortune.

About Lewala, comparatively little is known, as historiography, and especially tourist literature, are more interested in the German Stauch, whose activity is better documented, and with which European tourists can be more easily identified. Zora del Buono remarks in an article in the mirror : "Lewala's name entered the story, but not much more, the man had nothing of his find, no one paid him for it, or showed himself to be the great business of others Indeed fast. "

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