By: Nghiinomenwa-vali Hangala
Diamond mining is still sustaining Oranjemund, preventing it from turning into a ghost town.
This sentiment was shared by parliamentarian Justina Jonas during her keynote address on behalf of the Minister of Mines and Energy, Modestus Amutse, at the Mineworkers’ Union of Namibia (MUN) series of Regional Roundtable Discussions around the country.
The series is being hosted as part of MUN’s 40th anniversary. A total of four discussions focusing on workers’ interests, the mining sector and the future of work in Namibia will take place.
It also creates a platform for MUN leadership and members to directly engage with key stakeholders and policymakers.
The anniversary is being commemorated under the theme “From the Shaft to the Chamber: Workers’ Voices, National Choices.”
According to MUN it reflects the journey from mine sites, where wealth is generated, to national spaces where decisions affecting that wealth are made.
Amutse’s address contributed to discussions on the future of the industry, workers’ interests, local participation and the broader development of Namibia’s mineral resources.
He also touched on the mining operations sustaining the Hardap and Kharas regions as well as the continued impact of the 2024 Skorpion Zinc closure and government’s new national minerals beneficiation policy.
Amutse, while explained the weight that mining carries for the southern regions, “Here in Oranjemund, Namdeb’s diamond operation continues to employ more than 700 people and remains the economic anchor of this town.”
He stated that without diamond mining, “Oranjemund might have already turned into another ghost town.”
Amutse has also narrated the impact of Skorpion Zinc’s job losses.
“We cannot ignore the difficult realities faced by many families. The closure of Skorpion Zinc in 2024 resulted in the loss of around 500 jobs, and many households in Rosh Pinah continue to feel that impact today,” he explained.
He said the government, together with key stakeholders including the workers representative is working towards a responsible solution to restart the Skorpion Zinc mine and refinery operation.
“At this juncture, closure is not an option. Our focus must remain on protecting jobs, restoring competitiveness and keeping our communities alive.”
Amutse also highlighted the unemployment figures from the south.
He said unemployment in the ||Kharas region remains at about 38%, “This means that when a mine struggles, entire communities feel the consequences.”
Adding that given the anchoring role of the mine in the south, any operational change such as retrenchment and closure affects the economy of nearby towns.
“When a mine sneezes, the whole town catches a cold. However, there is reason for optimism despite these challenges, important opportunities are emerging in uranium, copper, gold and critical minerals,” he stated.
The address contributed to discussions on the
future of the industry, workers’ interests, local participation and the broader development of
Namibia’s mineral resources and touched on the mining operations sustaining the Hardap and
Also speaking at the roundtable, the Minister of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation, Wise Immanuel, placed the discussion within the broader question of resource nationalism.
“This is about resource nationalism, the principle that we must derive more value from our natural resources, rather than merely extracting them and shipping them out without any value addition,” Immanuel noted.
He said the conversation is about workers’ empowerment, that every decision to be made by policymakers must have workers at the centre of it.
Immanuel explained that mining should lead to ownership, acquisition and governance, investment within the mining industry must not just be on paper.
Acting President of the Mineworkers’ Union of Namibia, Poco-Key Mberiuana, spoke on the state of the Union.
He said there are structures in place to deal with members’ issues and his role as a leader is to direct where to take the Union and the wellbeing of the members.
Mberiuuana also added that his responsibility is to negotiate with NAM-MIC, and, as chairperson of the trust, with the policymakers.
At the same time he also highlighted that the workers need to have medical aid and a pension fund, and the Union is busy engaging on funeral cover for former members and their grandchildren.
The Southern Regional Roundtable provided an opportunity for MUN leadership, members, key stakeholders and policymakers to engage on the Union’s four decades of representing Namibian workers and its role in shaping discussions around the country’s mining sector.
Accoring to MUN the engagement also enhanced the dialogue on workers’ interests while contributing to broader discussions on the future of the mining industry and Namibia’s socio-economic development.
The initiative was powered by the Namibia Miners Investment Trust (NAMIT) and NAM-MIC Holdings.
