National Assembly Committee Concludes Small-Scale Mining Oversight Mission
The National Assembly Standing Committee on Natural Resources has concluded its week-long oversight mission to small-scale mining operations in the Kunene and Erongo regions.
The visit formed part of the Committee’s constitutional oversight mandate to assess the performance of Namibia’s small-scale mining sector and identify challenges affecting its growth and contribution to the economy.
During the mission, the Committee held engagements with small-scale miners, traditional authorities, regional leaders, government officials and local communities to gather first-hand information on the challenges facing the sector.
The oversight mission focused on assessing the operational status and production levels of small-scale mining activities, as well as challenges related to land access, financing, licensing, environmental compliance and market access.
The Committee also engaged stakeholders on policy and regulatory constraints and explored possible measures to strengthen the contribution of small-scale mining to local economic development and employment creation.
Committee Chairperson, Hon. Dr Tobie Ocean Aupindi, provided a summary of some of the key findings and recommendations arising from the mission.
The Committee will now compile a comprehensive report on its findings and recommendations.
Once the report is tabled and adopted by the National Assembly, it will be forwarded to the relevant ministries for implementation of the recommendations.
The oversight mission is expected to provide Parliament with a clearer understanding of the challenges facing small-scale miners and inform measures aimed at strengthening and formalising the sector.
