Residents of Omatjete Settlement and surrounding villages in the Daures Constituency have joined in the fray to get the Minister of Mines and Energy, Tom Alweendo, to keenly look into dealings of small-scale mines and license holders.

At the community meeting with the minister, they argued that some mines are not only illegal but are also not assisting locals to benefit from the natural resources mined there.

The residents stressed how Chinese-owned mining companies mistreat locals despite the millions of dollars they are collecting in revenue.

They also claimed that it is difficult for locals to obtain mining rights and senior job positions at mines, while some mines do not rehabilitate the environment after exploration when they do not recover resources.

The Minister of Mines and Energy Tom Alweendo promised to look into the matter. He also used the platform to warn Namibians to guard against selling their mining claims without doing due diligence but to use them to generate money.

He also added the ministry will start to strengthen community engagement consultations before exploration licenses are granted to prospective individuals or companies

It is estimated that there are about 2000 small-scale miners in the Erongo Region, operating in cooperatives. 

They mine semi-precious stones at Omatjete, Uis, Okombahe, Omaruru, Tsubusis, Otjimbingwe, Usakos and Walvis Bay.