National Council members have called on the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy to ensure mining companies contribute directly to Namibia’s development.
The members warn that the country continues to lose out while foreign-owned firms benefit mostly from its natural resources.
Debating the ministry’s budget allocation on Friday, parliamentarian Adolf Uunona said many mining companies extract wealth from Namibia, while local communities remain underdeveloped.
“These foreign-owned companies make money from our minerals and give us peanuts, yet their countries are highly developed using our resources. Namibia must demand development from these companies,” he said.
Uunona urged the ministry to place greater responsibility on mining firms to contrite to national development projects.
Deputy minister of justice and labour relations Inecia Brandt called on the ministry to intensify inspections at mining sites, saying illegal mining activities continue to cost the country revenue and resources.
“We have cases where people are prospecting and sometimes even mining without the ministry’s knowledge,” Brandt said.
She also urged Regional Electricity Distributors (REDs) to electricity tariffs affordable to enable rural communities to access power.
MP Nestor Sheimi cautioned against rapid mineral depletion, proposing that some resources should remain underground for future generations.
Sheimi further called on the government to establish local industries and factories to process and add value to Namibia’s own minerals.
In 2024, the government announced plans to stop the export of raw minerals in a bid to promote local value addition, skills transfer and the establishment of refining industries.
Meanwhile, Matheus Nanghama praised rural electrification efforts but urged authorities to ensure nearby communities also benefit from power infrastructure installed at public institutions.
