By Chrispin Inambao
TSUMEB
Prime Minister Nahas Angula praised Weatherly International PLC for extending an economic lifeline to Tsumeb town.
Tsumeb’s future looked bleak last year because Ongopolo Mining and Processing faced severe cash flow problems while its debt shot skywards.
Years ago it was Gold Field that pulled out putting thousands on the streets and over a year ago, like a proverbial cloud of uncertainty hanging over it, its prospects looked rather gloomy, as Ongopolo could not swim against the mounting debt tide.
Last Friday when he officially opened the Tsumeb Copper Festival, the Prime Minister said “we thank Weatherly International PLC for coming to the rescue of the mine. The economic life of Tsumeb has been given a boost. We have reason therefore to come together in this Copper Festival. We are encouraged by the efforts being made by Weatherly International PLC to rehabilitate both the smelter and copper mining.”
“I believe such efforts will provide much-needed jobs and boost economic activities in and around Tsumeb. I am informed that due to increased mining activities many more companies are investing in Tsumeb,” he said in reference to Powerline Africa, Auto Tech Excellence Service, Octagon Engineering, Family Choice, Le Bau and other investors.
“I believe Tsumeb has a potential to attract more investors. Its proximity to Etosha Game Park could attract the hotel and hospitality industry, ” noted the PM.
He also strongly believes labour-intensive industries such as textiles could also find their way to Tsumeb while its underground water sources could help turn it into a breadbasket.
Copper mining can be taken to another level, thus creating a value chain and creating much-needed employment by manufacturing cables and other finished products, he said.
The Tsumeb Municipality should turn good business ideas into potential investments and market the town as the industrial hub of the North, with the basic ingredients in place such as transport and communication, water, agriculture and labour.
Ongoing efforts by Tsumeb aimed at cultivating contacts with other towns outside Africa such as Elverum in Norway that was represented by its Deputy Mayor Arnfinn Uthus, the Guri Ulltveit-Moe (CEO) and Steinar Hovland (Project Coordinator), were praised.
“Everum is the home town of the Namibia-Norway Association, NAMAS. This association was one of the reliable partners during the struggle for our independence,” he said, adding: “As former Secretary of Education and Culture of Swapo I had long relations with Elverum. It was through NAMAS that Swapo was able to build a school for Namibian exiles in Congo Brazzaville. We cherish this continuing friendship,” he stated.
Bernhard Esau, the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry who also spoke at the event said Namibia still grapples with the challenges of creating the necessary jobs and alleviating poverty and bringing about greater equality.
Esau challenged the Tsumeb business community, in particular the private sector, to join hands with the Government in addressing the developmental challenges facing Namibia.
Esau further expressed concern about the high-level of alcohol consumption among the youth that visited the festival but he was told council is tackling this head-on and he was assured by next year these guzzlers would possibly be weaned from the addictive bottle.
Yesterday Engel Nawatiseb, the Mayor of Tsumeb, described as a resounding success the recent festival.
Nawatiseb said investments running into tens of millions have flowed into the town creating hundreds of new jobs for Tsumeb that still leans heavily on copper mining.
He said the municipality spent N$2.4 million on an electrification project and on rehabilitating a communal sewerage system for Soweto a suburb established in the 50s.