Rosh Pinah miners bemoan lead exposure
• Company defends its efforts
Employees at Rosh Pinah Zinc Corporation have a choice to make – quit their jobs, or work through dangerous blood lead levels.
Hundreds of workers at Rosh Pinah Zinc Corporation face serious health consequences from lead exposure - despite mine bosses saying various measures have been put in place to help "rectify the situation".
Exposure to lead can affect multiple body systems and is particularly harmful to young children and women of child-bearing age, according to the World Health Organisation.
Workers last month raised the issue with management, but were allegedly told that only employees with families who live in close proximity to the mine will be considered for relocation to manage the exposure.
There are also claims of medical cover-ups after several miners were found with high lead levels in their blood.
Miners who spoke to Namibian Sun said they are stuck between a rock and a hard place.
“I was tested and it was found that the lead levels in my blood are too high, so I am now left to decide whether to place my health first and quit my job and become unemployed, or continue working to earn a living,” a mineworker said.
Another worker, who has been employed at the mine for over a decade, said: “We have made peace with the situation, we have families to feed”.
Medical support
The company's vice-president of operations, Sheron Kaviua, told Namibian Sun that they take the issue very seriously and have reacted quickly and decisively to support those affected.
“We are working closely with the ministry of mines and energy, the ministry of health and the Rosh Pinah community to resolve these legacy issues, and are committed to rectifying the situation to ensure that the mine operates in line with international best practices.
“We have provided medical support, including prescribed medicines, to all individuals who have been affected, and are relocating all families in areas impacted by lead levels to newly refurbished houses," she said.
Not us
Mines minister Tom Alweendo said government had no hand in the alleged cover-up of dangerous blood lead levels (BLL) in Rosh Pinah residents.
He said this last week in parliament, answering questions posed by Landless People's Movement (LPM) second-in-command Henny Seibeb.
"All mining activities are prone to dangers such as health and safety [issues], not only for the employees but also for the community where mining operations take place.
“I therefore want to state that the government will not in any way or shape cover up issues related to health and safety in the mining sector," Alweendo said.
According to Seibeb, there is evidence linking lead exposure in children in Rosh Pinah to the zinc mine.
He added that there are claims that the mine has been covering up lead exposure that was confirmed in about 20% of children sampled.
"In February 2020, Rosh Pinah Zinc Corporation conducted a soil sampling study to assess the lead and arsenic concentrations in the residential soil to determine BLL and potential lead exposure in children in the areas of concern,” Alweendo said.
“The BLL of those tested were shared at all levels of the mine operations. The testing continues and monitoring takes place monthly.”
Awareness
Following outcry by Rosh Pinah residents, the mine carried out a lead awareness campaign at local schools and distributed pamphlets to the community.
Alweendo said after the exposure was brought to the ministry's attention, it "convened a meeting with the company, and the meeting was also attended by officials from the ministries of health and labour to discuss the matter".
"During that meeting, the company confirmed that the report does indeed exist. Given that the health ministry is the competent authority on health matters, it was concluded that the report be submitted to the ministry.
“I am informed that the health ministry and the company are addressing the recommendations in the report to manage the situation," he said.
Exposure to lead can affect multiple body systems and is particularly harmful to young children and women of child-bearing age, according to the World Health Organisation.
Workers last month raised the issue with management, but were allegedly told that only employees with families who live in close proximity to the mine will be considered for relocation to manage the exposure.
There are also claims of medical cover-ups after several miners were found with high lead levels in their blood.
Miners who spoke to Namibian Sun said they are stuck between a rock and a hard place.
“I was tested and it was found that the lead levels in my blood are too high, so I am now left to decide whether to place my health first and quit my job and become unemployed, or continue working to earn a living,” a mineworker said.
Another worker, who has been employed at the mine for over a decade, said: “We have made peace with the situation, we have families to feed”.
Medical support
The company's vice-president of operations, Sheron Kaviua, told Namibian Sun that they take the issue very seriously and have reacted quickly and decisively to support those affected.
“We are working closely with the ministry of mines and energy, the ministry of health and the Rosh Pinah community to resolve these legacy issues, and are committed to rectifying the situation to ensure that the mine operates in line with international best practices.
“We have provided medical support, including prescribed medicines, to all individuals who have been affected, and are relocating all families in areas impacted by lead levels to newly refurbished houses," she said.
Not us
Mines minister Tom Alweendo said government had no hand in the alleged cover-up of dangerous blood lead levels (BLL) in Rosh Pinah residents.
He said this last week in parliament, answering questions posed by Landless People's Movement (LPM) second-in-command Henny Seibeb.
"All mining activities are prone to dangers such as health and safety [issues], not only for the employees but also for the community where mining operations take place.
“I therefore want to state that the government will not in any way or shape cover up issues related to health and safety in the mining sector," Alweendo said.
According to Seibeb, there is evidence linking lead exposure in children in Rosh Pinah to the zinc mine.
He added that there are claims that the mine has been covering up lead exposure that was confirmed in about 20% of children sampled.
"In February 2020, Rosh Pinah Zinc Corporation conducted a soil sampling study to assess the lead and arsenic concentrations in the residential soil to determine BLL and potential lead exposure in children in the areas of concern,” Alweendo said.
“The BLL of those tested were shared at all levels of the mine operations. The testing continues and monitoring takes place monthly.”
Awareness
Following outcry by Rosh Pinah residents, the mine carried out a lead awareness campaign at local schools and distributed pamphlets to the community.
Alweendo said after the exposure was brought to the ministry's attention, it "convened a meeting with the company, and the meeting was also attended by officials from the ministries of health and labour to discuss the matter".
"During that meeting, the company confirmed that the report does indeed exist. Given that the health ministry is the competent authority on health matters, it was concluded that the report be submitted to the ministry.
“I am informed that the health ministry and the company are addressing the recommendations in the report to manage the situation," he said.
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