WALVIS BAY – At least 65 families in Uis in the Daures constituency, who rely on small-scale mining, face an uncertain future after the government announced its plan to declare the Brandberg Mountain a heritage site.
The group told New Era yesterday that they were removed on Wednesday while digging for semi-precious stones on a small section of the mountain.
The Brandberg mountain is located about 30 kilometres from Uis and has served as a support system for hundreds of families in the area who depend on income from selling semi-precious stones.
This follows the Cabinet’s approval of the nomination for the mountain to be considered for inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Information minister Emma Theofelus announced the development during a Cabinet briefing late last month.
She stated that the nomination could lead to the mountain becoming Namibia’s third World Heritage Site, alongside the Namib Sand Sea and Twyfelfontein.
The submission to UNESCO is planned for 1 February 2026.
However, the small-scale miners are now calling on the government to hold roundtable discussions so that the impact this move will have on them and their livelihoods is also considered.
The group said they were unaware of the development and only learned about it when officials from the National Heritage Council, accompanied by the Special Reserve Force, told them last Wednesday to vacate the mountain.
“We are shocked and confused as to why no consultations were done with us. There was no prior warning or notification that we should leave the piece of the mountain we occupy,” the miners said.
Johannes Gaseb, who has been mining for over 25 years, told New Era that he has been supporting his family of 14 with the small income he earns from semi-precious stones.
He stated that mining is their only source of income because there are no jobs in Uis.
“We are generational miners. This is the way our parents fed us, ensuring that we lacked nothing. The notion that we are illegally mining is absolutely false, and a narrative driven to discredit us and deny us our birthright. We had approval from our late chief. Our customary law makes provision for us to make a living from natural resources in our area,” he said.
Another miner, Johan Bam, said the latest move will increase unemployment and poverty in Uis, where there are already no jobs.
“The part we’re working on is just a small piece of the mountain. Tourists don’t even visit the side we use. It’s unfair that we have to be disadvantaged for the sake of tourism. Tourism doesn’t support our families. We don’t get any direct benefits from it,” he added.
The miners said they want the government to consult them so that they can continue working on the portion they occupy.
“We have coexisted with tourists. No crimes are committed here, and there are no wildlife transgressions,” they stressed.
Among those affected are also women.
Speaking on their behalf, Francisca Tuses expressed concern that their former chief, the late Elias Thaniseb, had permitted them to engage in small-scale mining.
“We are not illegal. Letters and documents show we had permission. Not everyone can attend university or secure a job in the government. How are we supposed to feed our families, who depend on these small-scale activities? This will escalate crime. The government should have prepared us for this. Imagine miners abandoning their equipment on the mountain and being instructed not to return,” she said.
She added, “We did not even know the site was to become a heritage site. No meetings or announcements were made. We were only told that, if we return to the mountain, we will be fined N$100 000”.
Contacted yesterday, Beverley Alexander, spokesperson for the National Heritage Council, told New Era that consultations took place with the Small Miners Association and some community members in the Uis/Brandberg area in February.
Asked whether they were aware that the mountain also supports small-scale miners through the extraction of semi-precious stones, Alexander said she was aware but could not confirm if concerns had been raised during the consultations.
“I will have to consult our records and give you proper feedback on it,” she said yesterday.