Miners cry foul over working conditions

Small-scale miners in the Kunene region have raised concerns over conflicts with established mining companies, inadequate working conditions and limited opportunities to benefit from mineral resources in their communities.

The concerns were raised during the National Assembly standing committee on natural resources’ three-day oversight mission on Tuesday to assess the progress and challenges facing small-scale miners in the region.

At the Oroutumba mining area in the Epupa constituency, small-scale miner Isaac Murumbua told the committee he was forced to stop mining sodalite after Gecko Mining company, which holds a mining licence in the area, informed him his operations were illegal.