The Okavango Diamond Company (ODC), Botswana’s state-owned rough diamond trading entity, has announced that its Chief Financial Officer Lipalese Makepe has been appointed Acting Managing Director.
Makepe will lead the company during the transition period while maintaining full operational stability, as Mmetla Masire will step down as Managing Director effective 1 December 2025 after more than four years at the helm.To ensure seamless continuity,
In a statement issued , the ODC Board of Directors described the departure as an “amicable and mutually agreed decision” that marks the beginning of a new strategic chapter for the company.
Masire, who assumed leadership on 12 July 2021, is widely credited with orchestrating a successful turnaround that propelled ODC to record-breaking financial performance. Under his stewardship, the company posted its highest-ever revenue in the 2022/2023 financial year – the strongest result since ODC was established in 2012.
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The board praised Masire for introducing a streamlined organisational structure, diversifying sales channels, and significantly enhancing the company’s competitiveness in the global rough diamond market, independent of the traditional Debswana–De Beers sales pipeline.
“The Board extends its deepest gratitude to Mr Masire for his outstanding leadership, dedication, and unwavering commitment to ODC’s growth,” the statement read. “He leaves the company in a robust position and has expressed full confidence in the management team’s ability to sustain the positive trajectory.”
Both Masire and the board underscored their joint commitment to a smooth handover process.
Established to maximise value from Botswana’s diamond resources outside the De Beers joint-venture framework, ODC remains a pivotal player in the nation’s diamond value chain, sourcing and marketing rough diamonds to an international client base.
The leadership transition comes as Botswana continues to pursue greater beneficiation and direct control over its world-class diamond assets.
