2013-10-02Mathias Haufiku …as Rundu expands rapidly RUNDU - Rundu residents are taking full advantage of the recent infrastructure boom and capital projects in the construction sector as sand mining continues to be the most sought money making undertaking among unemployed residents. Groups consisting of over 200 men wake up early each morning to dig up heaps of sand, which they sell to clients, mostly brick manufacturers and building contractors, who require quality sand for ongoing construction projects. Contractors prefer to buy sand from the unlicensed sand miners, because their prices are much lower than the prevailing market rates. Most of the sand miners who spoke to New Era yesterday said they would rather dig for sand ad earn a decent living than get involved in criminal activities. Sand mining has been growing steadily over the past two years, and the miners know that the demand will always be there as long as the town continues to develop and grow. “We know that digging sand is not good for the environment, but we do not have a choice, we must make a living and at the same time feed our children,” said Hosea Musongo (32), who is one of the many young men who have taken to this lucrative activity. “I have three children who need to be fed, I was always in town looking for a job but I did not get anything,” Musongo said. “The only way we can save the trees is if government relocates to an open space that has good sand and fewer trees, but for now there is nothing we can do,” he said. As one drives through Rundu construction workers can be observed everywhere, as new buildings go up and of course most of the credit goes to them for developing the town, while the hundreds of sand miners whose hands are glued to their spades from sunrise to sunset to ensure that construction companies and brick makers have enough sand are forgotten. The rain factor While the nation continues to pray for the rainy season to start, the sand miners say the rain will signal the beginning of unemployment for them. “When it rains we cannot work because this whole place will be filled with water and the sand will not be of good quality, which means our customers will not come and buy,” said 25-year-old Joaqi Nune. He explained that vehicles would not be able to access the sand mining pits during the rainy season. “As much as the country needs rain, I can assure you that we do not want the rain because we will not have work. We registered to receive drought relief food, but we are yet to get anything,” Nune told New Era. Most of the sand miners who spoke to New Era hail from Rundu’s newly formalised areas such as Kaisosi, Kehemu, Ndama, Sauyemwa and Kasote. Another sand miner, Kativa Musete, interrupted the exchange with Nune saying: “During the rainy season we just sit at home and struggle to get something to eat. Stealing will not help because you will end up in jail, therefore we just hope for the best.” Most of the sand miners, if not all, jeopardize their health by working without any protective masks or clothing. Communities living within close proximity of the sand mines are most vulnerable as a result of the air pollution caused by the mining activities. The trickle down effect Since the sand miners cannot work without eating, many enterprising women from the surrounding areas have taken to selling food and drinks at the mining sites taking advantage of the boom in sand mining. Maria Ngeve Manjoro (34) is one such woman. She says she decided to sell on the mining sites on the outskirts of town, because there are too many food vendors in the town centre. “There are a lot of people in the town, so I decided to come out here. These guys need to eat so that they can work. I come here every day and sit until the food is finished,” she said. For purposes of hygiene, she says she does not sell her leftovers the following day. Manjoro sells cigarettes, porridge, meat and the traditional ‘oshikundu’. “I have four children, so I have to pay the school fees of my eldest child who is in Grade 8 and for the two young ones who are at a day care centre. Since government introduced free education, at least I can use the money, which I was supposed to pay school fees with for my child in Grade 7 or for other things,” she said. Asked about any other challenges she faces while conducting her business, she said: “The only problem I face is when these guys come and take food on credit and then they do not pay, I have to force them until they pay. But all in all, we have a good relationship with the guys, because we all need each other,” she said, which is clear testimony that the sand mining boom has created a trickle down effect in term of providing opportunities to those who are enterprising to earn an honest living in this neck of the woods. Environmental impact As you approach the mining sites, the sight of scarred surfaces is common due to the intense mining activities going on there. The miners say they are aware of the negative impact on the environment, but there is nothing they can do since mining is their only source of livelihood. Local community activist and businesswoman Elizabeth Hilger is calling for stricter control measures to ensure that the pristine natural environment is protected. “The land is supposed to be our source of living, but now we are destroying it. We need to think of our future generations, because it takes quite long for ecosystems to recover once destroyed,” said a concerned Hilger. She said the town council should devise measures to ensure that the environment is used in a sustainable manner. “Some of these guys are digging really close to the river and at the rate this is going on, we will soon be in big trouble,” said Hilger. By Mathias Haufiku 2013-10-02Mathias Haufiku
