Parliamentarians are of the opinion that small-scale miners are being neglected by the mine’s ministry.
In the joint report presented in the National Assembly last week by committees of natural resources and economics as well as public administration, members stated that due to the centralised approach of the ministry’s activities, small-scale miners (SSMs) face challenges and high costs when applying for licences.
“Travel expenses and increased licence fees have made it unaffordable for them,” the report states.
Application fees for small- scale exploration and mining rights were adjusted from N$50 to N$250 in 2021. However, the report stated that these fees need to be reviewed again to accommodate more Namibians who may not be able to afford them.
It is estimated that there are about 2 000 small-scale miners in the Erongo region, operating mainly as cooperatives. They mine semi-precious stones in areas such as Omatjete, Uis, Okombahe, Omaruru, Tubusis, Otjimbingwe, Usakos and Walvis Bay.
Some parliamentarians last year argued that the high fees are being used as a tool to kick SSMs out of the mining game.
“These fees were determined not to include small-scale miners, but rather to leave them out. This is because they cannot afford the fees those big companies can afford,” asserted Tjekero Tweya, chairperson of parliamentary committee at the time.
MPs further noted that State participation is crucial to assist with funding as the small-scale mining industry is capital-intensive, and takes long periods of time before dividends or profits are realised.
“The Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) must approach SSMs to understand their needs, and consider a facility that will help Namibians participate in mining explorations. The ministry is not approaching the SSMs to give their views on mining laws and regulations, and there is no opportunity to showcase their products,” the report states.
The report further recommends that the ministry institutes different fee regimes for local small- scale mining enterprises to prevent exclusion, to capacitate SSMs on the licensing system, pay for legal procedures, provide technology and equipment as well as environmental protection, and assist with mining claims. Perhaps most importantly, the report notes that the ministry must develop a policy to minimise conflict between conservancies and miners, and between farmers and holders of exploratory licences.
Assistance
A motion to investigate challenges faced by small-scale miners in the Erongo region was tabled in the National Assembly last year by Henny Seibeb of the Landless People’s Movement (LPM). Seibeb demanded more acknowledgement and assistance for small miners.
In that motion, it was noted that difficulties faced by small-scale miners, whose operations are vital to their communities, are hampered by several factors. These include the lack of sufficient finances, restrictions to access mining areas, and regulatory limitations.
Also, small miners have recently expressed frustration with big companies that are granted licences to mine in their territories. These mining giants then report the small miners for trespassing and refer to them as “illegal miners”, which the small miners do not take lightly as many mine on “ancestral land”.
“They are now calling us illegal miners. This has been the way our forefathers who have been living in this area have been operating. We took over from them, and this is our way of living; nothing is illegal about it,” said one of the miners, preferring anonymity. The small-scale miner added that numerous families in the respective constituencies have been occupying and mining in the areas for decades. For this reason, he believes the small-scale miners should be respected, and their claims of ancestral land, specifically as part of the Damara people, must be considered.
“Some of these foreigners come to our ancestral land and chase us out, although we were here first,” said the miner.