UN boosts small-scale mining safety

Namibia’s small-scale mining sector is a lifeline for more than 10 000 Namibian households.

Alka Bhatia, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) country representative to Namibia, revealed this at the
official handover of personal protective equipment (PPE) to small-scale miners at Xoboxobos in the Erongo region last Friday.

She said the UNDP recognises the role small-scale miners play in Namibia’s economy.

Small-scale mining, she said, is also a means of empowerment, particularly for women, who have historically been underrepresented in this sector.

Health and safety are of the utmost importance to the UNDP, and the provision of PPE to small-scale miners demonstrate commitment to their well-being.

Bhatia said mining poses various risks to miners, and it is UNDP’s goal to mitigate these.

Before the handover, small-scale miners were provided with first aid training.

“The first aid training you have just completed, along with the personel protective equipment you are receiving today, will equip you against potential hazards and enable you to work with greater confidence,” she said.

She said the UNDP has supported five small-scale mining hotspots in Erongo region through the Ministry of Mines and Energy by constructing toilets, shade structures and waste bins in these areas.

The hotsposts are Otjimbojo, Omapyu, Otjakatjongo, Tubusis and Xoboxobos.

Deputy executive director of mines and energy Erasmus Shivolo said small-scale mining is often seen in a negative light because it is often associated with being illegal, environmental pollution and land degradation.

He said Namibia has made considerable efforts to dispel this negative image by encouraging and assisting small-scale miners to apply for mineral rights to operate legally.

“We are aware that our efforts have not wiped out illegal mining. However, we continue to try our best,” he said.

The UNDP aims to technically and financially support small-scale miners in Namibia through the Ministry of Mines and Energy in an effort to formalise and harmonise Namibia’s small-scale mining sector.

Since the inception of the project in 2020, more than 500 small-scale miners in Namibia have been trained on health and safety measures, environmental compliance and sustainable mining practices, Bhatia said.