Traditional authority rejects Lüderitz port expansion plan

The Nama Traditional Authority (NTA) has called on the Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) to be sensitive to the customs and traditions of locals amid their plan to expand the Lüderitz port.

The plan involves expanding to some parts of Shark Island, where ancestral graves can be found.

The NTA says the historical importance of Shark Island should carry the same weight as economic development.

More than 65 000 Herero and 10 000 Nama people were killed by German troops between 1904 and 1908 in what is widely acknowledged as the first genocide of the 20th century.

The attack was in retaliation of a revolt against colonial rule, led by paramount chief Samuel Maharero.

Many were killed in the camp on the island, which is now a peninsula.

Johannes Ortman, a member of the NTA, says the authority is not opposed to economic development, but wishes Namport would be more sensitive to the history of Shark Island.

“With the construction, the heritage site was infringed,” he says.

Ortman claims the NTA was not consulted on the matter.

“Nobody spoke to us. We’re against the expansion and we are promoting the preservation of Shark Island,” he says.

Ortman says the NTA has consulted forensic researchers to amplify the authority’s case on the matter.

Lüderitz mayor Phil Balhao says none of Namport’s plans he has seen thus far would affect Shark Island in any way.

“The existing port cannot accommodate these industries, so we would be forcing all the wonderful opportunities to rather move to Walvis Bay,” he says.

“This expansion is not only important for the region, but also nationally,” he says.

Balhao says the council hopes to find an amicable solution.

“There is still work ongoing, a lot of discussion, nothing is final just yet. We would love to see the port expansion happen, because of its absolute urgency and its relevance to our ambitions.”

Namport’s chief executive Andrew Kanime says by law, any infrastructural development is required to follow a process.

He says they held public consultations with the public to hear their concerns.

Kanime says Namport had workshops with the NTA, “where we presented the facts”.

“The facts are we are not touching Shark Island, we are expanding the current quay wall on the eastern side alongside Shark Island,” he says.

There have been concerns over noise and visual distraction.

“We have commissioned specialist studies that are currently running to allow us to mitigate the impact of the development,” he says.

The studies will be completed by early 2025, Kanime says.

Once the studies are completed, another round of consultations and mitigations with stakeholders will be held, the chief executive says.

“Only then will we submit our formal application to the environmental commissioner and the heritage council, and only when they receive approval will the project commence.”

Kanime says Namport wants to promote widespread development across the regions.

“And if we do the expansion at Walvis Bay, it would negatively impact the inhabitants of the south and Lüderitz.”

The planned expansion is planned for the end of 2025 after consultations have beencompleted.