By Indileni Ndeshipanda Daniel
I am deeply concerned by the continued increase in illegal sand and gravel mining activities across various parts of Namibia.
These activities are being undertaken without the required Environmental Clearance Certificates issued by the Environmental Commissioner, as stipulated under the Environmental Management Act, 2007 (Act No. 7 of 2007).
Additionally, I wish to remind all individuals, businesses, local and traditional authorities that any sand and gravel mining activity must be preceded by an environmental impact assessment, environmental management plan and the issuance of an environmental clearance certificate from the Office of the Environmental Commissioner.
I have noted major compliance issues in this regard with some individuals and businesses irresponsibly mining sand without the necessary certification. A practice that is unlawful and a direct violation of the country’s environmental laws.
Illegal sand mining poses danger to the environment, people, livestock and wildlife, such as land degradation, erosion of riverbanks, destruction of wetlands and agricultural land like mahangu fields.
Illegal sand mining also results in visual and landscape scarring, leaving behind unsightly excavations that degrade the natural beauty and aesthetic value of affected areas. Such impacts threaten water and food security, grazing land and biodiversity.
The open pits left behind by illegal sand mining operations fill with water during the rainy season like now, posing a serious risk to wildlife, livestock and human beings, particularly children.
While I acknowledge the growing demand for sand and gravel driven by national development priorities of new roads, housing and other infrastructure, development cannot come at the cost of irreversible environmental degradation.
Proper regulation of sand and gravel mining is therefore essential to balance economic development with environmental protection.
In this regard and in response to the foregoing challenges, the government through the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism will soon be undertaking stakeholder engagements in all regions on the draft sand and gravel mining regulations under the draft Environmental Management Amendment Bill.
The regulations are a needful ingredient in the implementation and enforcement of the Environmental Management Act.
I therefore encourage the public and stakeholders to attend environmental public consultations and workshops, such as these regional engagements, to provide their local inputs to the draft regulations and to understand the legal requirements for mining sand and gravel. I call upon all Namibians to desist from the irresponsible and unregulated illegal sand and gravel mining and to comply fully with the existing environmental laws.
*Indileni Ndeshipanda Daniel is a lawmaker and Cabinet Minister responsible for environment, forestry and tourism.
