Landless People's Movement (LPM) Leader Bernadus Swaartbooi has appealed to the Mines and Energy Minister to consider criminal prosecution against Xinfeng Investment and the Environmental Commissioner over the alleged illegal mining operations near Uis. 

Swaartbooi says if Minister Tom Alweendo's investigation into the allegations reveals that there has been falsification of documents or a breach of law, then the two parties must be prosecuted. 

The LPM leader was speaking at a community meeting convened by the Mines and Energy Minister to discuss allegations of illegal mining at Uis. 

"You must consider the extent of the law, possible criminal prosecutions against Xinfeng, and as a community, there must be considerations made for criminal prosecution against the environmental commissioner, there must be, perhaps they don't understand the nature of the decision they are taking."

The LPM leader says he does not trust the Environmental Commissioner Timo Mufeti. 

"The environmental commissioner has given permission for a company to mine Uranium in Omaheke, despite clear concerns that underground water will be polluted and traditional sectors will suffer, we don't have trust in the environmental commissioner to protect our environment." 

The Environmental Commissioner says all stakeholders must help Government in correcting mistakes that may have been done. 

"You are the ears and eyes of the central Government for the problems that are happening here. If there are mistakes or problems, we have got frameworks and ways to correct them and I think that's why we are here to listen to those and rectify them." 

Alweendo says if the ministry's second investigation into the illegal mining allegations reveals irregularities, all parties involved will be dealt with. 

"We will again check and if there is any illegality, be assured we are ready to deal with that because we do not support illegality, it doesn't matter where it comes from. "