Joint tourism, small-scale mining model

THE ministry of trade has collaborated with a German international cooperation agency on a pilot project that has seen the merging of the tourism and small-scale mining sectors, creating a new and unique joint venture model.

According to trade minister Tjekero Tweya, the model would bring out other opportunities to diversify the income sources of small miners, and may hopefully improve their standard of living, and formally structure the minerals market.

Tweya was speaking at the official launch of the ‘Namibia Mine Stones Project on sustainable jewellery production’ and the ‘Geo­Park Brandberg Project’ on Wednesday at the mining expo taking place at the Windhoek showgrounds.

The two projects are meant to diversify the livelihoods of small-scale miners in the Brandberg West constituency.

“The focus of this initiative falls on creating opportunities for entrepreneurship, as well as improving the livelihoods of small-scale miners. This initiative represents some of the early outcomes of fruitful cooperation between Namibia and Germany. In this regard, the Ministry of Industrialisation, Trade and SME Development and the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit jointly implemented the project for the ‘Promotion of Business Advisory and Economic Transformation Services’, (ProBATs),” the minister explained.

He added that the miners risk their lives on steep mountain slopes or inside narrow excavation sites, and then they often sell their gemstones far below market value.

Tweya said small-scale miners are driven to these extreme and desperate actions because they are in need of an income for themselves and their families.

“As such, small-scale miners are among the poorest socio-economic groups in Namibia. These miners are finding it increasingly difficult to raise capital to fund new ventures, despite the positive demand outlook for several commodities, and a world still largely awash with cheap credit,” he continued.

Small miners often lack appropriate equipment, the minister said, adding that they also lack access to finance and adequate onsite water supplies.

They also face huge challenges in getting access to formal markets, where they could sell their semi-precious stones.

Looking at the two pilot initiatives, the ‘Namibian Mine Stones’ project has a unique selection of three lines of design of jewellery products manufactured by Namibians using only Namibian mine stones, locally mined coloured gemstones.

Pilot two is the Geopark Brandberg project which adds value to families of small-scale miners who share their life stories with visiting tourists.

“The initiative is owned and managed by the small-scale miners at Goboboseb and the Tsiseb conservancy. It is also supported by the Traditional Tsiseb Authority and the local business community. This is a classical social adventure, new on a popular tourist route.

“The Geopark Brandberg project will offer tourists an opportunity to join a mining tour, with a guided village walk, and even to mine their own gems with hammer and chisel,” said the trade minister.

Doufi Namalambo, the gemstone sector’s industry growth facilitator, said the objective of the two initiatives is to enhance the conditions for entrepreneurial activity in Namibia, which would allow Namibian businesses to realise their growth potential.

The facilitator, who was quoted in The Namibian’s Mining Journal, said legislation fitted to corporate mining enterprises has resulted in a large informal small-mining market with conflicts over rights to mine.

According to her, integrating tourism into the gemstone value chain is an opportunity to diversify the income of small miners, improve their livelihoods, and formally structure the market.

“The small-scale miners are set to participate in this mining expo. Not only are we showcasing the coloured gemstone and jewellery value chain, but also to launch two initiatives which aim to create opportunities for entrepreneurial activities, and enhance the livelihoods of small-scale miners,” Namalambo said.

– charmaine@namibian.com.na; Twitter: @Char_Ngatjiheue.

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