Mines should do more: Manwu

KEETMANSHOOP – The mining giants in the country have once again been called upon to ensure that raw materials are processed locally as much as possible.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting here recently, the southern regional Organiser of the Metal and Allied Namibian Workers’ Union (Manwu), Raymond Koopman, noted that employment creation should be made a priority. Koopman charged that the exporting of unprocessed material to Western countries was tantamount to robbing locals their jobs and livelihood.He added that the Government was also losing out on billions of dollars through the exporting of raw mining products.The unionist advised that more gem polishing plants should be created in the country.He also called on the zinc mines in the country to consider processing their products locally rather than shipping them out in large blocks from the harbour town of Luederitz.Koopman said the African continent had been colonised in the past for its raw materials and the continued exploitation of the country’s resources at the expense of its inhabitants could be viewed in the same light.While admitting that the mines in the country have provided a livelihood to many people in the country, he stressed that more could still be done.”Our people need to start to benefit from our resources,” he said boldly.He stressed that mines do have a social responsibility towards the inhabitants of the country that they have to fulfil.”We would like to request our Government to start with Namibianisation of our natural resources and our economy (sic),” Koopman emphasised.He noted that the fight against poverty, hunger and unemployment was a hard one and should be tackled by all.Three of the country’s largest mines, the Namibia Diamond Corporation (Namdeb), Skorpion Zinc Mine and Rosh Pinah Zinc Mine, are in the Karas Region.-NampaKoopman charged that the exporting of unprocessed material to Western countries was tantamount to robbing locals their jobs and livelihood.He added that the Government was also losing out on billions of dollars through the exporting of raw mining products.The unionist advised that more gem polishing plants should be created in the country.He also called on the zinc mines in the country to consider processing their products locally rather than shipping them out in large blocks from the harbour town of Luederitz.Koopman said the African continent had been colonised in the past for its raw materials and the continued exploitation of the country’s resources at the expense of its inhabitants could be viewed in the same light.While admitting that the mines in the country have provided a livelihood to many people in the country, he stressed that more could still be done.”Our people need to start to benefit from our resources,” he said boldly.He stressed that mines do have a social responsibility towards the inhabitants of the country that they have to fulfil.”We would like to request our Government to start with Namibianisation of our natural resources and our economy (sic),” Koopman emphasised.He noted that the fight against poverty, hunger and unemployment was a hard one and should be tackled by all.Three of the country’s largest mines, the Namibia Diamond Corporation (Namdeb), Skorpion Zinc Mine and Rosh Pinah Zinc Mine, are in the Karas Region.-Nampa