Sand mining: Villagers cry foul

Environment minister Pohamba Shifeta has heard that the Uukwambi Traditional Authority is benefitting from sand mining activities, and that it had obtained environmental clearance certificates without consulting residents.

Shifeta is presiding over a sand mining matter that is being heard in the traditional authority's community court.

Residents of Onanime and Ekamba outside Oshakati are accusing the traditional authority of obtaining clearance certificates to burrow pits in their villages without following proper procedures.

They have appealed the granting of the certificates and Shifeta presided over the hearing last week. He is yet to deliver his ruling.

The residents said no public consultations were held before the certificates were issued and the traditional authority is now generating money from the sand mining activities and damaging environment, at the expense of the two villages.

Ekamba community representative Lukas Nantanga argued they were not consulted and the clearance certificate for burrow pit at Iiheke yaNakele was obtained unprocedurally.

“If the community was consulted, we need the minutes of those consultation meetings, the signatures of the people who attended and their comments. We do not want the comments from one person, but from all the people who attended the meeting, because if they were consulted they must have said something,” Nantanga said.





“Iiheke yaNakele is a cultural and heritage site, therefore proper consultation is needed and the proper environmental impact assessment (EIA) needs to be conducted.'

The traditional authority was represented by its spokesperson Reinhold Iita, who said the community and the Oshana and Omusati regional councils were consulted. He could, however, not provide any proof. He then amended his statement.

“Those burrow pits were already in existence, therefore there was no need to consult the public or conduct the EIA, as if we were establishing new pits,” Iita said.

“For the past 25 years the traditional authority has observed some members of the community interfering in its affairs. Claims that the clearance certificates were obtained through the back door and by unethical means is not true. They are just aimed at tarnishing the good image of the Uukwambi Traditional Authority.”

Nantanga argued that the burrow pits are being extended and therefore public consultations and a proper EIA must be conducted.

The community of Onanime, represented by Susan Herman, said they are not benefitting from the money being generated from the burrow pits in their communities.

Iita claimed the community has a bank account where all the money generated was being deposited into.

“I would like to know how that money is being used and also how the traditional authority accounts for those accounts. That money is supposed to be for the community and was supposed to be under control of the traditional authority and not under the control of some individuals,” Shifeta said.

Shifeta requested that the traditional authority submits reports on the community bank account, as well as the documents requested by Nantanga, before he rules on the matter.

ILENI NANDJATO