The people of Leonardville have come together to urge the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR) to reconsider its position and permit Headspring Investments to continue its uranium exploration programme in our community. We speak not as outsiders or mere spectators but as residents whose lives, livelihoods and future are directly impacted by this decision. 

Exploration is not the same as mining. It is the process by which experts determine if mining can be done safely, responsibly and sustainably. 

Stopping exploration before it is finished denies both the company and the community the right to know – whether our land has potential benefits or should stay untouched for environmental reasons. 

Only science and data can answer that question, not speculation, assumptions or fear. 

We, the people of Leonardville, believe in development that is both environmentally sound and economically empowering. 

The Headspring Investments project provided an opportunity for our region, a place often overlooked in national progress to move forward finally. 

Jobs, training, infrastructure improvements and renewed hope for our youth were among the promises associated with this project. However, the current obstruction by MAWLR threatens to shatter those hopes before they can even be tested. 

We must ask: who benefits when progress is blocked? 

Certainly not the local youth who are unemployed, not the families struggling to make ends meet, and not the farmers whose lands could access new water infrastructure and roads. 

By halting exploration, the ministry is not protecting the people – it is denying them the chance to make informed decisions about their future. 

Government exists for the people – and its duty is to serve, listen and include them. 

The Constitution of Namibia is built upon the principles of democracy, participation and transparency. Yet, our community feels that our voices have been overlooked. Decisions are made about us but not with us. 

That is not the Namibia our leaders promised us at independence. We, therefore, urge the Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform Inge Zaamwani-Kamwi to visit Leonardville and engage directly with our community. We request the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources to conduct public consultations in our area. 

Let them see our faces, hear our voices and understand our aspirations. 

Let them witness a community that does not want to destroy its land but seeks to understand it responsibly and scientifically. 

This issue is not about politics but fairness and the right to be involved in our country’s growth. 

Still, we cannot ignore the growing frustration among our people who feel that the government only notices communities like ours when elections are near. 

We are told that our votes count, but when it comes to decisions affecting our lives, our opinions are ignored. 

That imbalance must stop. 

We, the Leonardville community, have always respected government authority and the rule of law. However, respect must be reciprocal. 

It is unfair and undemocratic to silence the very people whose lives are most impacted by these decisions. Development cannot be forced from above. 

It must be created through dialogue, trust and shared understanding. 

Our message is straightforward: let exploration continue with strict environmental oversight and complete transparency. 

Allow the scientific process to unfold naturally. 

Let evidence, not politics, guide the decisions that are best for our region. 

The Leonardville Youth Group and the wider community are ready to collaborate with government, scientists and all relevant authorities to promote responsible exploration. 

Our request is for partnership, not permission. 

We aim to be part of the solution, not viewed as a problem. We urge the minister to recognise that halting exploration without a valid reason not only stops progress but also increases the feeling of marginalisation in rural communities. 

We want to trust in a government that listens, consults and shares its vision with the people. 

If our voices continue to go unheard, many in our community will become disillusioned with national decision-making processes, including elections. 

We cannot be viewed solely as voters. 

We must also be respected as partners in development. Leonardville stands united in hope, patience and determination. 

We believe that fair consideration, dialogue and evidence-based decision-making are key to creating a future where development and environmental protection can coexist. We remain ready to engage, listen and move forward together for the sake of our people, our land and our country. *Anton Geinub is the chairperson of the Leonardville Youth Group. He writes on behalf of the concerned Leonardville community.