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MINISTER of mines and energy Tom Alweendo says his ministry’s records show no proof of illegal activities being perpetrated by Chinese lithium miner Xinfeng Investment.
“The petition we received earlier, there was no proof of illegality. But you seem to have more evidence that it is illegal [the mining activities].
“On our records, based on what we thought we had, there was no illegality,” he said.
In the petition read by community activist Jimmy Areseb, the community questioned why Xinfeng Investment, for which exclusive prospecting licences (EPLs) are pending at Uis, Okombahe and Omaruru, is applying for more EPLs.
“The company wrote a letter to the traditional authority to be granted consent on EPL-8397, which belongs to Orange River Investment, which is currently having a pending environmental clearance certificate.
“Furthermore, this company was also granted consent on two mining claims, which are 70515 and 70516, which belong to Townland Investment (Pty)Ltd, that are in EPL 7248, which belongs to Mount Brandberg Mining (Pty)Ltd,” Areseb read.
He claimed several illegal activities of Orange River Exploration and Mining CC around EPLs are taking place in the area.
Orange River Exploration and Mining CC belongs to Peter Shifwaku.
This overlaps with 10 mining claims that belong to Long Fire Investment and a joint venture company with Xinfeng, Areseb said.
He claimed these companies are conducting mining activities without mining licences. “The company does not have any mining plan or blasting tickets, yet goes along with its operations as if everything is normal,” he said.
Landless People’s Movement leader Bernadus Swartbooi, who was also present at the meeting, warned Alweendo not to underestimate communities in mineral-rich constituencies.
“We must never make the mistake of underestimating the understanding of the community about how their livelihoods are affected by mining. The communities are not illiterate any more,” he said.
Swartbooi said communities now have access to information they can use to fight the government.
He said communities do not trust mines ministry officials, because they do not practise what is agreed on during community consultations.
“When the public meetings end, the very friendly official becomes brutally arrogant in the offices,” he said.
Swartbooi said he was disappointed about Xinfeng Investment’s absence from the meeting.
However, Xinfeng was said to be represented by former Development Bank of Namibia (DBM) chairperson and business representative of the president Tania Hangula.
Hangula only indicated who she was to community members during the networking lunch after the meeting. She managed president Hage Geingob’s mining engineering company in the past.
Areseb confirmed that Hangula introduced herself as Long Fire’s newly appointed consultant.
Last week Xinfeng’s legal and public relations representatives, Nambili Mhata Legal Practitioners, said the company is committed to operating transparently, sustainably and in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
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