Rosh Pinah proclamation stalled

PLANS to have Rosh Pinah proclaimed a town towards the end of this year are close to dead, according to the acting settlement manager.

Rosh Skor Acting Town Manager Callie van Heerden this week said negotiations between Government and Rosh Skor have stalled and the parties have not met since their last meeting at the end of September last year. ‘The talks have slowed down a bit for reasons not known to me,’ Van Heerden said. He said the parties still had to reach agreement on how N$32,8 million that Government had pledged to invest at the town would be spent. ‘We don’t want to hold Government to ransom, but one needs to agree on certain conditions,’ said Van Heerden. The proposed Government investment was equal to the amount spent since 2000 by Skorpion Zinc Mine and Rosh Pinah Zinc Corporation on the settlement. Van Heerden said another priority issue concerned land leased to businesses by Rosh Skor. According to Van Heerden, agreement had to be reached on how leaseholders would be able to buy land rented from Rosh Skor. He also expressed misgivings about the planned proclamation. ‘There is no guarantee that the mining settlement after being proclaimed would sustain itself if mining operations come to en end,’ he said.The lifespan of Skorpion Zinc Mine is projected at seven years, while 15 years is projected for Rosh Pinah Zinc Corporation. Van Heerden said positive results from continuous explorations might prolong both mines’ lifespan. Van Heerden also noted that the mines recently suspended capital projects to the tune of N$20 million following the decline in zinc prices. This, he said, has led to job losses at the mines. As a result many residents are unable to pay for essential services. Despite the settlement’s future depending on the mines, the stalled talks, and his own misgivings, Van Heerden was cautiously optimistic that the settlement would become a town. ‘Yes the tourism sector is growing at a fast rate at the settlement, but one cannot guarantee that gains from tourism would alone boost its sustainability,’ he remarked. luqman@namibian.com.na