Shifeta steps into salt pan fray

Environment minister Pohamba Shifeta, along with the environmental commissioner, Teofilus Nghitila, will assess the Otjivalunda salt pan situated north of Etosha National Park on Friday. Shifeta is expected to pronounce himself on the issue after Gecko Namibia appealed against Nghitila's refusal to issue an environmental clearance certificate for a proposed salt mine in 2014. Gecko Namibia started pursuing its plan to mine salt at Otjivalunda during 2012. According to their company's managing director, Pine van Wyk, they would like to establish a salt mining and soap production company. The project has the support of regional governor Clemens Kashuupulwa, but it has been rejected by the community of Otjivalunda and the Iipumbu yaTshilongo Conservancy. The project is envisaged to be a partnership between Gecko Namibia, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Gecko Otjivalunda Holdings, which has the financial and technical know-how, and the Ondonga Community Trust Fund and the Uukwambi Community Trust Fund operating as Ondonga-Uukwambi Mining Enterprises (OUME), which is the holder of exclusive prospecting licence (EPL) 4365, which covers 20 650 hectares. According to Van Wyk, during 2013, Gecko Namibia and OUME, assisted by Enviro Dynamics, conducted a comprehensive environmental impact assessment (EIA) in relation to the proposed salt mining operations and the construction of a production plant at the Otjivalunda salt pans. The EIA was submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Tourism on 6 December 2013 for environmental clearance, which the environmental commissioner formally declined on 25 July 2014. The commissioner, Teofilus Nghitila, said the scope and extent of the proposed project would trigger the forced migration of bird colonies and other wildlife species. He also stated in a letter to Gecko that salt mining might result in the pans drying up. The area had the potential of being recognised as an ecosystem of international importance, he pointed out. In accordance with the Environmental Management Act, it was sensible and reasonably fair to protect the ecosystem of the proposed site from any destructive human interventions, the commissioner said.Nghitila also cited the local tradition of fetching salt as an initiation rite for young men, and the importance of salt as a 'hard currency' used for trading and barter by the native Hai//om San and Aawambo for centuries. Gecko appealed to the minister on 7 August 2014 and Van Wyk said last week that they were still waiting for the outcome. Nghitila's decision was also taken as a slight by Kashuupulwa, who claimed that he was never consulted by Nghitila. He said Nghitila and his team only consulted a few traditional leaders and residents of Otjivalunda, who are against the project on the basis of cultural heritage. In 2015, Kashuupulwa complained about the decision to prime minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila and to deputy mines minister Kornelia Shilunga. Shifeta, who will be accompanied by the chief control warden for the northern regions, Rehabeam Erki, will hold a community meeting at the Eengombe centre at Uuvudhiya.Apart from Otjivalunda, Shifeta is expected to pay a visit to the Uukwaluudhi, Sheya Shuushona and Epupa conservancies, where he will hold talks with traditional leaders and community members.ILENI NANDJATO

Shifeta steps into salt pan fray

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-19

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Shifeta steps into salt pan fray

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-19

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