Small-scale miners in Namibia’s Kunene region raised urgent concerns on Monday regarding Exclusive Prospecting Licences, mineral pricing transparency, and regulatory barriers during a parliamentary committee oversight visit aimed at evaluating performance and operational challenges in the local mining sector.
Parliamentary Committee Begins Oversight Visit Across Kunene and Erongo
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources launched its official oversight programme in Opuwo, beginning with a courtesy visit to the Kunene governor before holding comprehensive consultations with regional leaders, government officials, traditional authorities, and local mining communities. The legislative delegation structured its itinerary to inspect active extraction sites firsthand, scheduling stops at Ohungumure Small-Scale Mining and Okarikua Village Mining on the opening day.
The inspection circuit continued through subsequent days to evaluate operational realities at Oroutumba Mining, Tjirora Mine CC, Wahombombotu Mining, Ouuanomake Mining, and Jasper Mining within the Onguta Rural constituency. The second leg of the oversight mission shifts toward the Erongo region for stakeholder meetings with Erongo governor Nathalia /Goagoses in Swakopmund, alongside site evaluations at the Uiba-Oas Crystal Market near Usakos and Gobogobo’s Small-Scale Mining operation in Uis.
Licensing Disputes and Economic Exclusion Stifle Local Miners
Small-scale extraction serves as a vital economic lifeline for rural households throughout the Kunene region, yet practitioners navigate significant operational hurdles with minimal financial backing, specialized equipment, or formal training. Miners reported that complicated regulatory processes and a lack of clear information regarding environmental compliance leave them vulnerable during legal disputes.
Disparities in how EPL holders and independent operators understand their respective rights have exacerbated local tensions. During Monday’s parliamentary engagement, community representatives detailed the structural barriers preventing broader participation in the regional economy.
Adding to these operational obstacles, applicants face steep financial outlays to secure mandatory Environmental Clearance Certificates, often paying substantial fees to private assessors.
Information Gaps in Mineral Pricing and Safety Training
Beyond regulatory hurdles, operators highlighted a profound lack of market transparency regarding commodity values. Miners routinely extract valuable resources without clear data on fair market rates.
In response to these market blind spots, miners urged the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy to provide reliable pricing guidance and structured educational programmes. Additional appeals focused on establishing formal safety training and negotiating mining agreements designed to foster genuine community ownership through shared operational stakes rather than isolated extraction.
Government and Committee Response to Sectoral Grievances
Committee chairperson Tobie Aupindi acknowledged the gravity of the testimonies gathered during the field hearings, confirming that lawmakers would systematically document all grievances for inclusion in the committee’s formal report. Government representatives present at the hearings responded directly to the administrative and legal complaints raised by the workforce.
Abraham Iilende, Deputy Director of Mineral Rights in the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy, assured participants that state regulators would review the documented challenges and take concrete steps to implement requested educational initiatives. Iilende also instructed miners to formally report any prospecting licences issued without prior traditional leadership approval so that the ministry can initiate formal investigations.
Policy Revisions and Legislative Next Steps
The parliamentary committee’s ongoing field assessments are designed to feed directly into national policy and regulatory reforms. By examining production levels, land access constraints, financing bottlenecks, and marketing barriers firsthand, lawmakers aim to draft targeted legislative recommendations.
These upcoming proposals are intended to strengthen the small-scale mining sector’s contribution to broader economic development and sustainable job creation across Namibia’s northwestern and coastal regions.
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