Ester Mbathera
Over the years the residents of Tsumeb have complained about several illnesses that they blamed on exposure to arsenic, fumes and dust coming from the copper smelter operated on by Weatherly and later Dundee Precious Metals.
Before Dundee’s departure in 2024, the community of Tsumeb asked for assurance that the environment was safe and that there would be no health-related consequences.
Former deputy minister of information and communication technology and a resident of Tsumeb, Engel Nawatiseb, is among those who made the request.
“We asked them to give us assurance that we are in safe hands and our health is guaranteed. Going forward, no one should experience any health problems,” he said.
According to him, the community has also urged Dundee Precious Metals to engage Sinomine, the company that took over the Tsumeb smelter, to address arsenic contamination in the town.
“Or else the government must come in and say, ‘We allowed Dundee to do the production here. We will take accountability for the health and future of this town.’ That is what we want. We don’t want to block the sale. We know that the Chinese are better investors than the Canadians,” he said.
Nawatiseb is advocating for environmental rehabilitation and criticising the government for failing to enforce accountability for Dundee.
“That is what the environmental laws are providing. After any mining or smelting activities, the responsible company must make sure to clean their tracks,” said Nawatiseb.
Questions sent to the Ministry of Health and Social Services and the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism in October last year have not been responded to to date.
Residents and former and current workers complain of nausea, mucous membrane irritation, skin irritation and rashes, kidney damage, fatigue, severe headaches, as well as erectile dysfunction.
Independent analyses of hair samples taken from people in Tsumeb and on Dundee employees showed high levels of arsenic.
Reports show that some of the workers who worked at the arsenic plant for DPM until its closure in 2016 were heavily exposed to AsO₃.
The residents have complained about the issue for years and it has fallen on deaf ears as the government remains mum over the arsenic and the pollution.
Like the residents, farming taking place adjacent to the smelter is also affected as the soil is heavily contaminated with heavy metals and arsenic.
Lab tests done show massive soil contamination with a high concentration of arsenic compared to other elements.
Scientific studies of arsenic in plants and food in Tsumeb also show elevated levels.
The warnings about the situation with Tsumeb come back.
A study done by Israel Hasheela in 2018 titled Contamination Mapping and Land Use Categorisation for Tsumeb found that the highest contamination of soil was found in the northern parts of Tsumeb.
The concentration of contaminants in the soil increases towards the smelter.
Hasheela found that among the contamination receptors identified in the area are gardening or crop farming activities, as well as humans inhaling or ingesting contaminated dust.
According to the report, children are at a higher risk as they often play on contaminated ground.
Hasheela recommended that the development of residential areas be directed towards the south and southwest of the existing town, where contamination is not at critical levels.
“The study recommends the discontinuation of any agricultural activities in the vicinity of the smelter, especially in the areas towards the west and north. The guideline value for industrial land use is higher (500 ppm) compared to residential and agricultural use, so industrial development could occupy the area situated nearer the smelter surrounding the “No Go” zone,” reads the study.
Similar recommendations have also been made by different stakeholders, such as Bankwatch, Earthlife Namibia, and Friends of the Earth Bulgaria, that Tsumeb municipality should independently monitor the health of the inhabitants and the environment, especially the water resources.
They also recommended that the government should impose a public management constraint on Dundee to adequately dispose of the arsenic waste, especially its dumping site that is running out of capacity.
