Martin Endjala
The Landless People’s Movement is questioning the level of commitment of corporates to develop local communities where they operate.
LPM says businesses, particularly mining companies are not ploughing back into the communities where they do business, resulting in the mushrooming of informal settlements across the Country. The party wants these companies to be held accountable.
These sentiments were expressed by LPM Deputy Leader Henny Seibeb and the Youth Student Command Element leader Duminga Ndala.
During today’s press conference held at the LPM headquarter in Windhoek under the theme mining and local development they particularly singled out Usakos, Omaruru and Karibib as among the towns not experiencing the necessary growth.
Seibeb wants the mining companies that are conducting their businesses in various towns to start uplifting the livelihoods of the inhabitants from where they tap their labour and extract resources.
He further called on mining companies to provide housing to those working for them and are residents of such towns, thereby reducing the proliferation of shanties.
Seibeb said he is disappointed the consultations around the development of the much spoken about discovery of oil and the prospects of green hydrogen could not have been done from the conception of the projects and not as an afterthought.
The President’s Economic Adviser, James Mnyupe, spearheading the green hydrogen project, Seibeb said failed to consult with the relevant regional governing leaders in regions such as the Kharas, where LPM is the governing party.
“Ask him whether he has made consultative approach with the chairperson of the region, he will not
tell you. This is the undermining of culture that we refer to,” said Seibeb, accusing Mnyupe for allegedly playing a political game and not development.
He promised that the LPM will not wait on government for consultations, but will see how it can extend its expertise and inputs on some of the ongoing projects in the country.
Duminga Ndala, wants young people in these communities living in and around mining sites to be involved in the development of their people.
She opined that cooperate social responsibility should speak to the means and needs of the inhabitants of these towns and settlements.
She called on the corporates to identify the shortcomings within these communities, as well as for government to introduce new reformed regulations to hold such companies accountable for lack of developing these towns.
Ndala applauded the prospects of the green hydrogen that brought about scholarship opportunities for young people, but has however emphasized that scholarships must not be given based on political affiliations or tribal, but on merit.
