DTA slams phosphate mining clearance ‘Dysfunctional and disjointed’ governance The official opposition has ripped into the Ministry of Environment and Tourism for giving the green light to seabed phosphate mining. ELLANIE SMIT The DTA has expressed concern about the lack of practical evidence that supports the feasibility of marine phosphate mining and the “dysfunction and lack of cohesion” displayed by the ministries involved in the awarding of licences and environmental clearance.
The chief whip of the DTA, Jennifer van den Heever, said it is extremely distressing when those who the public have entrusted with safeguarding the environment and marine life are this “dysfunctional and disjointed”.
Her remarks come after the Ministry of Environment and Tourism issued environmental clearance to Namibia Marine Phosphate and the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources then reacted with shock, stating that it had not been informed about the decision.
“Given the environmental risks associated with marine phosphate mining, and the blatant lack of coordination and dysfunction prevalent, one would hesitate to imagine the future where marine phosphate mining is permitted and these same dysfunctional entities are meant to serve as the regulatory bodies that ensure companies do not cause undue damage to our marine life,” said Van den Heever.
According to Van den Heever she has persistently asked both the Minister of Environment and Tourism and the Minister of Mines and Energy questions in the National Assembly relating to the status of marine phosphate mining in Namibia.
She said she was referred from one ministry to the next and was told that the questions were “misdirected”.
According to her it also emerged in the responses that a cabinet committee had been tasked with conducting research on the viability of marine phosphate mining.
She said it was stated that marine phosphate mining would only be permitted pending the findings and recommendation of the proposed research.
“It was thus extremely surprising to find that, despite the mooted research not being finalised, the environment ministry saw it fit to issue environmental clearance to Namibia Marine Phosphate.”
According to her another twist that proves the dysfunction in the current administration is that the fisheries ministry expressed “shock” at the decision by the tourism ministry to issue the environmental clearance.
“It is evident that the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing.”
She said many countries have investigated the possibility of venturing into marine phosphate mining and on each occasion research found that the risks to marine life are simply too great.
According to her the risks become even greater when considering that in Namibia 15 000 fishermen and their families are directly dependent on the sea for their daily bread.
“In the absence of robust scientific evidence which proves, without qualification, that marine phosphate mining will not endanger sea life in Namibia the DTA is strongly against any attempts to permit marine phosphate mining that endangers not only our marine life, but the employment status of 15 000 fishermen.”
When contacted for comment on the Confederation of Namibian Fishing Association’s (CNFA) letter demanding documents relating to the issuance of the environmental clearance, the organisation’s lawyer, Sisa Namandje, would only say that contact had been established with the environmental commissioner and “we are working on the matter”.
Namandje said he was not prepared to discuss the matter further in the media.