Residents of Uis allege that dishonest investors used hamburgers, plastic chairs and N$10 000 in cash to entice their chiefs into signing consent letters for mining in the area. A traditional leader and a mining company denied the accusations but confirmed receiving chairs and a computer from one of the mining firms. The frustrated residents made these accusations in the presence of Daure Daman Traditional Authority chief Sakarias Seibeb during a meeting with Minister of Mines and Energy Tom Alweendo to discuss alleged illegal lithium mining in the Daures area. They demand that mining activities be halted and a full investigation launched into the irregularities, which they say are partly caused by their traditional leaders.
“Please train our traditional authorities. We don’t know if our elders can read or understand what is at stake or whether they have any knowledge of how mining works,” said Cornelia Atjiwara, a member of the Daure Daman, during the meeting. She explained that the controversial Xingfeng Lithium mine approached the traditional authority for consent on claim 8397 Exclusive Exploration Licence (EPL). “They told our traditional leaders that they would receive 20 chairs, a computer and N$10 000 for it. Our leaders, however, gave them a consent letter for two other claims in a different EPL situated in the Brandberg mountains.” Atjiwara added that the lack of community consultation about the mining’s implications on traditional livelihoods is a source of great frustration. She called on the mines ministry and the ministry responsible for traditional authorities to address this practice, which she says gambles with a community that receives no benefit from mining. “They should be called to order and trained, as they are selling the community for hamburgers and car tyres to the Chinese,” she warned.
MacDonald Gaweseb, also from Uis, said no development has taken place in the town despite the rapid growth of mines in the area. He argued that the mines use local resources such as water for their operations instead of reinvesting in the community whose resources they exploit. “They even accused us of trespassing on our own ancestral land. They now have more rights than us, born and raised here. How fair is it if we have to watch our own natural resources leave Uis to enrich others? We really want the minister to put an end to this,” Gaweseb appealed.
Uis activist Jimmy Areseb accused the traditional authorities of being interested only in personal income and benefits, neglecting projects that would benefit the community at large. “They are keeping investors as their secret tool for self‑enrichment, therefore consultation between the affected communities and potential investors is being neglected. The community would like to see our area developed—roads upgraded, schools renovated, bursaries for top students. Instead, our leaders are requesting car tyres, engines, 20 plastic chairs, corrugated‑iron sheets and N$10 000 for personal benefit,” he said.
Chief Seibeb denied the allegations, stating that neither he nor his council were compromised or bribed. He confirmed that one company donated a computer and chairs to the traditional authority, but said the consent letter granted to Xingfeng was only to allow the company to set up a camp for its equipment. “The consent letter contained guidelines on how they were supposed to carry out their activities and required them to consider all nature‑conservation organisations operating in the Uis area. It is mainly a reminder not to harm our environment,” the chief explained. He asserted that Xingfeng did not bribe them and that they possessed all the legal documents for their operations. “We are not gullible enough to be bribed with food,” Seibeb added.
At a recent meeting with the community, Minister Alweendo said the concerns of Uis residents are genuine and that the ministry will investigate the allegations. “We are here to get a better understanding of the problem. I believe we can only resolve it if we fully understand the issue,” he responded, adding that he will not protect anyone who is not following the law. “If there is proof of any illegal activity and the findings state so, we will take the necessary steps,” the minister said, inviting residents to engage the ministry in consultation on their concerns.
Xingfeng representative Aqisha Jooste denied the bribery allegations, stating that the company has not engaged in any illegal activity. “Xingfeng did not bribe any official or traditional leader and operates within the set guidelines of the law,” Jooste said.
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