“Addressing poverty in mining areas and generally across the country requires a multi-faceted approach. First, and foremost, there must be greater transparency and accountability in the management of natural resources. The interests of local communities must be prioritized, and mechanisms for meaningful participation in decision-making processes must be established. Next, we must acknowledge that poverty in mining communities is not a standalone issue but rather a symptom of broader systemic challenges. Therefore, our approach must be holistic, addressing the root causes of poverty while simultaneously leveraging the opportunities presented by the mining sector.” Said National Planning Director General, Obeth Kandjoze at a recent talks shop where the mining sector came under the microscopic attention of a diverse concerned cohort of community socio-economic activists.
“The theme further raises discomfort or concern that these benefits that accrue from the mining and extractive industries may not necessarily benefit the vast majority of people in the country who languish in poverty, find themselves unemployed, and suffer the apparent ubiquitous damnation of inequality. Hence, the call for leveraging these benefits from mining and extractive industries towards addressing the country’s social economic development challenges.” Were the views of Reverend Andre September in his opening remarks at the very same indaba, dubbed the Alternative Minining Indaba.
The common thread running through their respective remarks is poverty and unemployment among communities, in which one or the other mineral is being mined.
Also common to both speakers is the need to leverage the mining and extractive industries in the country so that the people benefits in one way or another from these natural resources, which undeniably Namibia is richly endowed with.
But delving deeper into the inputs of the two speakers, it is obvious that the two has as yet to reach consensus about the leveraging of the industry. Let alone society at large, revealing the urgent need for society to dissect what leveraging may mean to both and society at large.
It is not clear what the eminent activists have come up with as to how the industry can, could, should and must be leveraged for maximum benefits from mining and the extractive industries for requisite to trickle down to all and whether the trickling down is the best the rest of the country, especially the so-called poor, could expect or made to believe this is the best to expect as per one school of thought if not the dominant one.
But from the two to three speakers that Yours Truly Ideologically had the opportunity to listen to, it seems the premise is and was to navigate the given capitalist jungle and interrogate the political and economic terrain to be able to extract what maximum benefits could be had. For the requisite trickling down effect to the people, who in actual fact should be the actual owners of such resources but due to pertaining capitalist trickeries, such are not theirs but those of investors.
It is thus necessary as well as interesting to know what the various activist stakeholders may have viewed and shall continue to view and understand by what seemed to be the operative word, leveraging. Which could and must have been encapsulated by the theme and objectives of the indaba. “Increasing Benefits from Mining and Extractive Industries in Namibia to Leverage the Country’s Social Economic Development Challenges – Including Poverty, Unemployment And Inequality”. With the objectives including, “assess and analyze the performance and outputs from the mining and extractive industry in Namibia with regards to profits and revenues and to interrogate why the rich mineral resources has not been able to significantly address the socio-economic development challenges in Namibia”.
And “undertake a comparative review of the tax regime for the mining and extractive industry in Namibia and make recommendations for increased government revenues from tax where feasible and appropriate”.
All surely are purposeful objectives which could go a long way towards improving benefits for most, especially the ordinary person in the street or in the communities out there where mining and extractive operations are taking place and have been taking place. But the question still remains whether the mere tinkering with the legal regimes pertaining to the operation of the mining and extractive entities is the best one and the country should strive and hope for. Is this what essentially levering means? Given as per Reverend September observations that the “theme further raises discomfort or concern that these benefits that accrue from the mining and extractive industries may not necessarily benefit the vast majority of people in the country who languish in poverty, find themselves unemployed, and suffer the apparent ubiquitous damnation of inequality. Hence, the call for leveraging these benefits from mining and extractive industries towards addressing the country’s social economic development challenges”.
“My contention is that the church should affirm the essential role that mining can play in the life of people and development of countries, while at the same time challenge unethical and harmful practices, including lack of proper utilization of natural resources for the common good, greed and corruption, and promote peace, development and the ecology,” notes the Reverend further.
On his turn Kandjoze observes that “effective government policies and regulations are crucial in ensuring that the benefits from mining are distributed unbiased.
Striking a balance between attracting foreign investment and safeguarding our national interests is essential. A transparent and accountable regulatory framework will foster investor confidence while protecting the rights of our citizens. Mining companies must become active participants in community development. This goes beyond monetary contributions and involves collaborating with local leaders to identify and address the unique needs of each community. Projects focusing on education, healthcare, and sustainable agriculture can be initiated to create a lasting positive impact on the lives of those living near mining operations”. The convergence between Reverend September and Honorable Kandjoze is obvious as may be the divergence, and as much that of the various strata of society, characterised, most of all, by lack of an ideological approach on this matter, which goes beyond the mere tinkering with the legal frameworks of mining and extraction of the natural resources of the country.
