Zacharias Lewala

Later he worked under his superior August Stauch at the maintenance of the Aus–Lüderitz railway line.

In 1908, when he was scouting near the railway station at Grasplatz, he discovered several stones which he suspected to be diamonds.

He dutifully handed these over to Stauch and said: "Look, Mister, moy Klip (beautiful stone)."

Realising the area was full of diamonds, the German government prohibited entry to almost the entire extent of Namibia's southern coast soon thereafter, declaring it the "Sperrgebiet", meaning "forbidden zone".

Zora del Buono remarks in an article in the German news magazine der Spiegel:[4]"Lewala's name entered history but not much more, the man had nothing of his find, no one paid him for it or showed any kind of gratitude, others made the big business and they made it quick."