Banner Left
Banner Right

Sand mining still a headache in north-central Namibia

Illegal sand mining continues to pose a significant environmental challenge in Namibia’s north-central region, with the majority of sand extraction sites operating without the necessary permits.

This is according to Laimi Erckie, the chief warden of the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism.

She yesterday told The Namibian the majority of sand-mining pits are illegal.

“It is still a major problem. Illegal sand-mining pits are more than the legal ones as they do not have environmental clearance certificates (ECCs),” she said.

Erckie said authorities, such as traditional authorities, town and regional councils, that should own sand-mining ventures often do not come forth to identify sites for borrow pits.

There is currently only one legal sand-mining site at the Uukwambi Traditional Authority and the Ondonga Traditional Authority areas, respectively, she said.

In the Oukwanyama Traditional Authority area, there are more legal sand-mining sites than at the Uukwambi and Ondonga areas, yet illegal sand-mining cites in the north-central region greatly outnumber those that are legal.

According to the Environmental Management Act, an environmental impact assessment (EIA) has to be conducted before such sites are given an ECC.

Erckie said conducting an EIA is a costly exercise which the authorities often cannot afford.

Environmental consultants, she said, should be independent professionals who are registered with the Environmental Assessment Professionals of Namibia.

She said in the past, business people could own sand-mining pits, but the act has made it clear that no individual may own a sand-mining site.

Such sites should only be owned by a traditional authority, town or regional council.

Erckie said the Ondangwa Town Council has a legal sand-mining site in the area.

In the Uukwambi Traditional Authority area, the legal sand-mining site is at Onatshiku sha Laban village in the Okatana constituency of the Oshana region.

At Onatshiku village, sand is being mined legally, Erckie said.

They have been awarded an ECC by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism.

Each sand collector is registered and pays a certain fee to the Uukwambi Traditional Authority. Residents have opened a village bank account.

The fee is shared equally by the traditional authority and the village.

The village uses its share of the money for development purposes.

The ministry became aware of large-scale illegal sand mining in 2019, Erckie said.

The Institute for Public Policy Research released a report in 2020 finding that illegal and unregulated sand mining was getting out of hand in Namibia and has become a major environmental concern and danger.

Unrehabilitated sand pits pose a danger to humans, livestock and wildlife, it said.

Stay informed with The Namibian – your source for credible journalism. Get in-depth reporting and opinions for only N$85 a month. Invest in journalism, invest in democracy –
Subscribe Now!

Latest News