Swapo youth league wants Cabinet to vet permits

The Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) wants the Cabinet to oversee environmental clearance decisions (ECCs), while critics warn this could politicise the process and undermine technical oversight.

SPYL secretary Ephraim Nekongo says environmental decisions should not be left solely to administrative officials and ministers must oversee decisions made within their ministries.

“We wish to urge the Cabinet to ensure that the granting of ECCs is not left solely at the mercy of administrative functionaries who bear no direct political responsibility towards the citizens for the preservation of Namibia’s natural resources,” Nekongo said on Friday.

Nekongo said article 40 of the Constitution gives Cabinet members the responsibility to direct, coordinate and supervise ministries and government departments.

“Article 41 states that ministers are individually accountable for the administration of their ministries and collectively responsible for the work of Cabinet to the president and parliament.”

SPYL’s call comes as it pushes for the ECC granted to the Sandpiper marine phosphate project to be reviewed and set aside.

The youth league has opposed phosphate mining since 2019.