The Tsumeb community has threatened to hold a protest on Monday to press Dundee Precious Metals (Dundee) to provide them with jobs during the smelter’s scheduled maintenance shutdown.
The Tsumeb community has threatened to stage a demonstration on Monday, in an effort to force Dundee Precious Metals (Dundee) to provide them with jobs over the duration of the smelter’s planned maintenance shutdown.
The residents are claiming that people from outside Tsumeb are being contracted ahead of the locals for general positions which do not require detailed experience.
They further argue that it is unfair to sideline locals claiming they directly suffer from arsenic pollution as a result of the smelting activities happening at the mine.
Every year Dundee carries out a planned plant maintenance exercise whereby operations cease for nearly a month. This action is often undertaken by contracted companies to perform the work.
However, this year the community is irked as they claim that such companies have brought in their own employees to perform general work at the expense of residents.
“The community is very angry. As a result, they have approached my office to assist them in securing jobs with Dundee, and I have brought this matter to the management of Dundee. That is the furthest I can, but what will happen afterwards is beyond me as the residents themselves are pushing,” said Tsumeb Constituency Councillor Gottlieb Ndjendjela.
“Therefore, they have given Dundee until Sunday to give them assurance of employment, and if they do not receive any satisfactory feedback, they have vowed to demonstrate on Monday at the mining premises.”
Ndjendjela was perplexed about the situation while hinting that it is not the first time the mine has not honoured its promises of providing especially unskilled jobs to locals.
“On numerous occasions, myself, the town mayor and Dundee have had discussions regarding providing employment to locals first, but these verbal agreements do not always materialise to everyone’s satisfaction,” said the councillor.
Meanwhile, Dundee spokesperson Alina Garises, while confirming the shutdown said, “specialist work has already been procured and contracted to Namibian enterprises as far as possible.”
“The company’s formal tender processes were followed in the awarding of all contractor work. I wish to add that the company supports creation of local employment opportunities, therefore, we have made a contractual commitment that all general labours must be from Tsumeb. We are strict with contractors, and we expect them to adhere to this requirement.”
“Where internal vacancies exist, for which Dundee administers the recruitment process, such vacancies will be advertised in the local press and social platforms to create awareness about employment opportunities. Everyone who meets the minimum requirements are encouraged to apply for these vacancies.
“Dundee is an equal opportunity employer and adheres to all applicable laws and regulations regarding equal employment. Our hiring practices are based on merit ensuring a fair and unbiased recruitment process,” she reiterated, emphasising Dundee’s commitment to its core values of transparency and partnering with the community.
Dundee has a workforce of approximately 800. The smelter was constructed in 1963 and is one of only a few in the world that can treat complex copper concentrates. The smelter produces 98.5% pure copper blisters and with its ability to treat complex copper concentrates is transitioning from a captive smelter, receiving mainly DPM concentrates into a toll treatment facility with brown-fields expansion potential.
