Man loses ‘N$3m investment’ in repossessed EPL
OGONE TLHAGE
WINDHOEK
Local businessman David Shikwambi has accused mines minister Tom Alweendo of theft and victimisation after his exclusive exploration licence (EPL) was not renewed upon expiry.
This follows a change in policy that has allowed the ministry of mines not to issue any new exploration permits until later this month. Prior to this, EPLs that were deemed to not have been developed by their allocated owners could be taken back by government when their allocation period lapsed.
There is currently a moratorium on mining rights applications, which was instituted last November and remains in place until 17 August.
Government was advised to auction off mining licences by the High-Level Panel on the Namibian Economy, led by Bank of Namibia governor Johannes !Gawaxab.
Shikwambi said he had spent time and money developing his EPL but felt hard-done by a decision to have the licence taken away from him.
The ministry informed Shikwambi on 9 June that it would not renew his licences for EPLs 4404 and 4405.
“He is claiming that work was not done regarding these two EPLs, which is a blatant lie. Because of this, he has decided not to renew my EPLs 4404 and 4405 which is meant for my company, Gazania Investments Four Hundred and Twenty-Three. The minister is busy with his tricks again, using his modus operandi to syphon my 12 EPLs from me again,” Shikwambi claimed.
Cheated, victimised, intimidated
“I feel cheated, victimised and intimidated by the minister of mines, Mr Tom Alweendo. This minister, who is an elite of corrupted ministers in the government of Namibia, clandestinely is trying to psychologically hypnotise me and silence me by again trying his own modus operandi to rob me of my well-deserved EPL,” he added.
Shikwambi claimed that he had invested over N$3 million in his EPLs. which he said he risked losing.
“I have nothing to fear, I have proof of what I am stating. I spent plus minus N$3 million to develop my EPLs, now he wants to take it away from me clandestinely,” he said.
Not responsible
Alweendo denied the allegations, saying he was not even responsible for allocating EPLs in his ministry.
According to the minister, the EPLs had not been developed for a lengthy period of time, prompting the ministry to take them away from Shikwambi. The ministry was seized with the matter, he added.
The ministry of mines last year introduced a bidding process for fishing and mineral rights in an effort to promote transparency.
“The introduction of a transparent bidding process for allocation of fishing rights and quotas and mineral licencing will require amendment of the Marine Resources Act and the Minerals Act to review the role of existing decision-making mechanisms on the matters and to effect consequential amendments, if any, to the Public Procurement Act,” a note read.
Once finalised, mining licences could be auctioned, as was the case with the country’s fishing resources last September.
WINDHOEK
Local businessman David Shikwambi has accused mines minister Tom Alweendo of theft and victimisation after his exclusive exploration licence (EPL) was not renewed upon expiry.
This follows a change in policy that has allowed the ministry of mines not to issue any new exploration permits until later this month. Prior to this, EPLs that were deemed to not have been developed by their allocated owners could be taken back by government when their allocation period lapsed.
There is currently a moratorium on mining rights applications, which was instituted last November and remains in place until 17 August.
Government was advised to auction off mining licences by the High-Level Panel on the Namibian Economy, led by Bank of Namibia governor Johannes !Gawaxab.
Shikwambi said he had spent time and money developing his EPL but felt hard-done by a decision to have the licence taken away from him.
The ministry informed Shikwambi on 9 June that it would not renew his licences for EPLs 4404 and 4405.
“He is claiming that work was not done regarding these two EPLs, which is a blatant lie. Because of this, he has decided not to renew my EPLs 4404 and 4405 which is meant for my company, Gazania Investments Four Hundred and Twenty-Three. The minister is busy with his tricks again, using his modus operandi to syphon my 12 EPLs from me again,” Shikwambi claimed.
Cheated, victimised, intimidated
“I feel cheated, victimised and intimidated by the minister of mines, Mr Tom Alweendo. This minister, who is an elite of corrupted ministers in the government of Namibia, clandestinely is trying to psychologically hypnotise me and silence me by again trying his own modus operandi to rob me of my well-deserved EPL,” he added.
Shikwambi claimed that he had invested over N$3 million in his EPLs. which he said he risked losing.
“I have nothing to fear, I have proof of what I am stating. I spent plus minus N$3 million to develop my EPLs, now he wants to take it away from me clandestinely,” he said.
Not responsible
Alweendo denied the allegations, saying he was not even responsible for allocating EPLs in his ministry.
According to the minister, the EPLs had not been developed for a lengthy period of time, prompting the ministry to take them away from Shikwambi. The ministry was seized with the matter, he added.
The ministry of mines last year introduced a bidding process for fishing and mineral rights in an effort to promote transparency.
“The introduction of a transparent bidding process for allocation of fishing rights and quotas and mineral licencing will require amendment of the Marine Resources Act and the Minerals Act to review the role of existing decision-making mechanisms on the matters and to effect consequential amendments, if any, to the Public Procurement Act,” a note read.
Once finalised, mining licences could be auctioned, as was the case with the country’s fishing resources last September.
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