Editorial: Answers Still Needed On Ramatex Issues

WE have said it before, and we repeat it again:we are in the forefront of those encouraging foreign investment with a view to creating jobs for the thousands of unemployed people in our country.

But in no way should this be at any cost: either to our environment or our citizens. The Ramatex plant is a case in point.This week it emerged that the Windhoek City Council has called a halt to certain activities at the plant because of pollution to the capital’s water supplies.Government, in its bid to ease unemployment, uses Export Processing Zones (EPZs) to try and create jobs.It was in this context that it facilitated the setting up of Ramatex.The investment was heralded far and wide, and this Malaysian-based group was given privileges and prerogatives, including labour exemptions, apparently as part of the incentives for them to set up shop here.But what has it brought us? Yes, it has created around 6 000 or more jobs, albeit low-paying, for Namibians.However, in the process, our city’s scarce and precious water supplies may have been seriously polluted in the factory processes of washing and dyeing of fabrics.It seems that Namibians have been shortchanged in this operation.This week, Windhoek City CEO Niilo Taapopi told the City Council that the pollution of the environment through the waste from the factory was of what he called ‘great concern’, and had been ‘noted with a sense of urgency’ by the Municipality.He added that the City Council had therefore withdrawn conditional permission granted in April 2003, for the factory to undertake what is called ‘wet processing’; namely the various washing, dyeing and finishing techniques in the enhancement of textiles.The Municipality took a high-level Government delegation to the factory in order to point out the severity of the situation to them.Opposition members in Council, who have been largely pressing for action on the Ramatex concerns, are also urging legal action against the company if it failed to adhere to the agreement reached with them in 2001.Ramatex was given generous incentives by Government in their eagerness to attract foreign investment.But even in this context not all the agreements have been honoured.Government itself needs to shoulder considerable blame.When environmental concerns were initially raised, early on, Government turned a deaf ear.More than that, they tried to label those airing the concerns as being opposed to job creation, etc.Alternatively, reporters writing on concerns surrounding the issue were dismissed as rabble-rousers.Now that the problem has become acute, officials are finally easing the issue into the public arena.In the process, it is evident that Government has tried to hush matters up when concerns have been raised by City Councillors.Some Councillors, too, toed the party line and assumed the role of bystanders.It is a relief that the issues are now receiving attention.We hope that transparency will prevail and that there will be no more sweeping of issues under the carpet.Apart from environmental concerns, a number of other concerns related to the Ramatex saga need to be clarified.These embrace the rights of workers, procedures surrounding the granting of work permits to foreign workers and alleged family-political links in exploiting the hapless Bangladeshi workers who flocked to Namibia in search of a better life.We would have expected Government to have already thoroughly investigated and pronounced itself upon these and other matters, especially regarding the involvement or collusion of Namibian officials in what appeared to be a scam.It was high time the Municipality acted,.Now they need to keep up the pressure and not let Government dictate in the interest of a few, but rather force them to act for the benefit of all.We do want investment, but the kind from which both our country and our people can benefit.The Ramatex plant is a case in point.This week it emerged that the Windhoek City Council has called a halt to certain activities at the plant because of pollution to the capital’s water supplies.Government, in its bid to ease unemployment, uses Export Processing Zones (EPZs) to try and create jobs.It was in this context that it facilitated the setting up of Ramatex.The investment was heralded far and wide, and this Malaysian-based group was given privileges and prerogatives, including labour exemptions, apparently as part of the incentives for them to set up shop here.But what has it brought us? Yes, it has created around 6 000 or more jobs, albeit low-paying, for Namibians.However, in the process, our city’s scarce and precious water supplies may have been seriously polluted in the factory processes of washing and dyeing of fabrics.It seems that Namibians have been shortchanged in this operation.This week, Windhoek City CEO Niilo Taapopi told the City Council that the pollution of the environment through the waste from the factory was of what he called ‘great concern’, and had been ‘noted with a sense of urgency’ by the Municipality.He added that the City Council had therefore withdrawn conditional permission granted in April 2003, for the factory to undertake what is called ‘wet processing’; namely the various washing, dyeing and finishing techniques in the enhancement of textiles.The Municipality took a high-level Government delegation to the factory in order to point out the severity of the situation to them.Opposition members in Council, who have been largely pressing for action on the Ramatex concerns, are also urging legal action against the company if it failed to adhere to the agreement reached with them in 2001.Ramatex was given generous incentives by Government in their eagerness to attract foreign investment.But even in this context not all the agreements have been honoured.Government itself needs to shoulder considerable blame.When environmental concerns were initially raised, early on, Government turned a deaf ear.More than that, they tried to label those airing the concerns as being opposed to job creation, etc.Alternatively, reporters writing on concerns surrounding the issue were dismissed as rabble-rousers.Now that the problem has become acute, officials are finally easing the issue into the public arena.In the process, it is evident that Government has tried to hush matters up when concerns have been raised by City Councillors.Some Councillors, too, toed the party line and assumed the role of bystanders.It is a relief that the issues are now receiving attention.We hope that transparency will prevail and that there will be no more sweeping of issues under the carpet.Apart from environmental concerns, a number of other concerns related to the Ramatex saga need to be clarified.These embrace the rights of workers, procedures surrounding the granting of work permits to foreign workers and alleged family-political links in exploiting the hapless Bangladeshi workers who flocked to Namibia in search of a better life.We would have expected Government to have already thoroughly investigated and pronounced itself upon these and other matters, especially regarding the involvement or collusion of Namibian officials in what appeared to be a scam.It was high time the Municipality acted,.Now they need to keep up the pressure and not let Government dictate in the interest of a few, but rather force them to act for the benefit of all.We do want investment, but the kind from which both our country and our people can benefit.