Committee takes aim at mines ministry …over poor rural mining support

UIS – Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources chairperson has taken aim at the mines and energy ministry for failing to take its services to rural communities where ordinary Namibians are carrying out actual mining activities.

The committee wrapped up their oversight visit to small-scale mining areas in the Kunene and Erongo regions over the weekend, where they expressed disappointment on the lack of support from the ministry to rural communities.

This, the committee says, has resulted in illegal mining, poor safety and labour conditions, while Namibia are losing millions through illegal operations, some of which are carried out by undocumented people. Speaking on behalf of the committee to New Era, chairperson Tobie Aupindi said the committee is appalled by what is happening on the ground.

According to him, the ministry cannot continue operating mainly from Windhoek while small-scale miners in mineral-rich areas struggle with licensing, equipment, markets and access to information.