The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources says the findings from the investigation into illegal lithium mining at Uis indicate that there are some loopholes in the law that need fixing.

Tjekero Tweya informed Erongo Governor Neville Andre that the investigation shows that ministries, regional governments, and responsible agencies are not talking to each other to close the loopholes.

Six mines and energy subcommittee members under the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources paid a courtesy call on Erongo Governor Neville Andre.

The members are visiting mines in the region to find out how their operations are complying with various applicable laws.

Chairperson Tjekero Tweya says the committee went to Uis and surrounding areas in May to investigate illegal mining allegations and found serious anomalies.

He says the traditional leaders could not tell the difference between mining and exploration, while the constituency councillor did not know how many operations are ongoing.

"And indeed, there are loopholes, only from the central government straight here. But we ignore the other structures of government in between. We're not talking to each other. So those are loopholes within the law, which, through our findings from the ground, we will have to correct instead of criticising and blaming each other; that's not the purpose of this committee."

The parliamentarians went to Uis following a motion tabled in parliament by the Landless People's Movement.

"That report is not complete yet. We will allow the executive leg to respond to our findings. So that it is a report that has given everybody an opportunity to give their side because we are not here, as a committee, as parliament, to make the other one look bad. That's not the purpose, but to work together, we identify together, so then they also have their own challenges because that law is maybe from 92 or 94. So many things have happened in between. So if we are to amend it, so that we know what to amend."

Tweya says the labour and working conditions of Namibian workers at one of the lithium mines near UIs were shocking and horrible, while their Chinese counterparts were living under better conditions. He says the committee called the licence holder to improve the situation.