Rosh Pinah – “It is not every day that you host a governor and minister at the same time”, was the statement echoed repeatedly by speakers at the two zinc mines in Rosh Pinah.
The Deputy Minister of Mines and Energy Kornelia Shilunga visited the two mines as part her familiarisation tour of the southern region while the mother of the region, //Kharas Regional Governor Lucia Basson was invited for the familiarisation tour of the two mines.
During their three-day visit, they met the management of the respective mines and toured the mining sites where they observed the mining process from start to finish.
Shilunga, in a consultative meeting with Rosh Pinah Zinc Corporation, urged the mine to create special requirements in the recruitment process so that more disabled people can be employed in suitable positions at the company, as currently the mine employs no person living with disability.
At the welcoming dinner last Friday, the deputy minister stated that her ministry was established to take custody of Namibia’s rich mineral and energy resources and to create an environment where these minerals contribute to the country’s socio-economic development.
She encouraged the mines to add value to their product before it is exported, saying that this would benefit Namibia more in terms of job creation, income generation and poverty eradication.
“Beneficiation and manufacturing creates competitive advantages such as skills, labour and capital.” Noted the deputy minister of mines and energy.
She called on all the mines operating in the //Kharas Region and regional and local authorities to come together to help educate communities on geo-environment and the mining industry.
Governor Basson, in her remarks on the tour, said the visit was a good initiative as it nurtures good working relationships between the government and the mining industry, particularly the two Zinc mines.
Basson said Rosh Pinah has great potential and it is evident, as implementing the joint Gergarub project can extend the mine lifespan.
She said it was common knowledge that there is an ore body and that arbitration issues are no longer present and thus mining operations should commence soon.
“Thus the joint venture must be realised into a mine without delay as more jobs can be created and reduce unemployment in the // Kharas region” she said. The two political figures also visited the Tutungeni informal settlement as well as different social projects in the area.
The three-day familiarisation tour started on Thursday and concluded on Saturday.
by Matheus Hamutenya