"Ministry of Mines Needs to Help Traditional Authorities in Issuing ‘Consent Letters’"

Traditional authorities in Namibia which approve mineral prospecting and mining applications in their areas have been criticised for issuing ‘consent letters’ for “hamburgers, chairs, N$20 000 or sitting allowances” without benefits accruing to their communities. However, can they really be blamed if the line ministry responsible for issuing such licences, the Ministry of Mine and Energy (MME), doesn’t take a stance beyond an administrative role to ensure safety nets are in place to mitigate conflicts between mining/exploration companies and communities?...

Rather, we have a system lacking synergy in terms of administrative and customary law (among others), which negatively affects the mining sector. Loopholes are being utilised by international and local parties to create a monopoly aimed at benefiting a few locals through applicants buying themselves into the mining industry through ‘consent letters’. Worse still, mining officials claim that traditional authorities or chiefs are not prohibited from deciding what remuneration or benefit they should receive for issuing ‘consent letters’. This happens when section 30 clearly not only restricts such participation in recommendations but allows the minister or mining commissioner to disregard them if they’re not soundly based.