Alweendo dares Xinfeng naysayers to prove wrongdoing
Mines minister Tom Alweendo has challenged naysayers of the Xinfeng mining project in Uis to provide evidence of alleged wrongdoing by the company.
This comes amid accusations that the company is transgressing mining laws and involved in illegal mining activities near Omaruru.
Alweendo made these remarks in Uis during a community engagement held there last week.
"On our records, based on what we have, there was no illegality, but I cannot say, maybe there is something wrong. I do not support illegality, but it has to be proven," Alweendo said.
On the same page
Alweendo underlined his support for the community in airing their concerns.
"We are of the same stance that you say things must be done correctly. I agree with you, and if you point that out, definitely, that’s what we want to correct; don’t go away thinking we are supporting illegality," Alweendo said.
Xinfeng was not being treated with kid gloves, he added.
"No one is above the law. I do not allow, support illegal practices. Therefore, if there are illegal activities happening with regards to mining, they must not be allowed," he said.
Legal opinion being sought
Meanwhile, the ministry of mines and energy has sought the legal advice of Attorney-General Festus Mbandeka regarding the manner in which Chinese miner Xinfeng Investments Namibia acquired its licence to extract lithium near Uis in the Erongo Region.
Namibian Sun understands that the ministry’s preliminary investigations found that the company misrepresented facts in its application – something Alweendo seeks to rectify.
But, with the licence already issued and Xinfeng already exporting lithium from Uis to China, the ministry’s hands are tied on the matter.
It is for this reason that the ministry sought legal advice from Mbandeka, the principal legal adviser to government. Xinfeng was formally alerted to the ministry’s preliminary findings last Thursday and given 30 days within which it must answer the claims.
Xinfeng made headlines towards the end of last year when allegations emerged that it paid N$50 million to acquire Orange River Mining’s lithium mining exploration licence in Uis.
This comes amid accusations that the company is transgressing mining laws and involved in illegal mining activities near Omaruru.
Alweendo made these remarks in Uis during a community engagement held there last week.
"On our records, based on what we have, there was no illegality, but I cannot say, maybe there is something wrong. I do not support illegality, but it has to be proven," Alweendo said.
On the same page
Alweendo underlined his support for the community in airing their concerns.
"We are of the same stance that you say things must be done correctly. I agree with you, and if you point that out, definitely, that’s what we want to correct; don’t go away thinking we are supporting illegality," Alweendo said.
Xinfeng was not being treated with kid gloves, he added.
"No one is above the law. I do not allow, support illegal practices. Therefore, if there are illegal activities happening with regards to mining, they must not be allowed," he said.
Legal opinion being sought
Meanwhile, the ministry of mines and energy has sought the legal advice of Attorney-General Festus Mbandeka regarding the manner in which Chinese miner Xinfeng Investments Namibia acquired its licence to extract lithium near Uis in the Erongo Region.
Namibian Sun understands that the ministry’s preliminary investigations found that the company misrepresented facts in its application – something Alweendo seeks to rectify.
But, with the licence already issued and Xinfeng already exporting lithium from Uis to China, the ministry’s hands are tied on the matter.
It is for this reason that the ministry sought legal advice from Mbandeka, the principal legal adviser to government. Xinfeng was formally alerted to the ministry’s preliminary findings last Thursday and given 30 days within which it must answer the claims.
Xinfeng made headlines towards the end of last year when allegations emerged that it paid N$50 million to acquire Orange River Mining’s lithium mining exploration licence in Uis.
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