Namibia: Concern over privatisation of salt pan
Several human rights defenders, community and environmental activists, traditional leaders as well as political leaders in the Owambo district in northwestern Namibia have severally but unanimously expressed concern at what they described as 'unilateral and exclusive privatization of a community natural resource'. They are referring to a salt exploration and processing scheme soon to be constructed near the town of Oshakati. There are also fears in human rights circles that the profit-driven privatization of the communal salt resources might have serious environmental, cultural and political consequences. Warned Namibian Society for Human Rights executive director Phil ya Nangoloh: "We are not opposed to employment creation efforts per se. However, as human rights defenders our concerns about the scheme are obvious: income-generating business ventures of this nature result from neoliberal processes, such as privatization of natural resources and promotion of exports at the expense of local communities. Also, experience has shown that these neoliberal processes have locally led to uncontrolled and disruptive industrialization, proliferation of technologies aimed at maximizing profit with scant regard for resource sustainability as well as to rapid urbanization and environmental degradation."
January 9 2005
PRESS RELEASE
OWAMBO SALT PLANT MIRED IN CONTROVERSY
Several human rights defenders, community and environmental activists, traditional leaders as well as political leaders in the Owambo district in northwestern Namibia have severally but unanimously expressed concern at what they described as ‘unilateral and exclusive privatization of a community natural resource’. They are referring to a salt exploration and processing scheme soon to be constructed near the town of Oshakati.
In an interview with local NBC Radio on December 28 2004 Oshana Regional Governor Clemence Kashuupulwa announced that a giant salt exploration and processing plant is to be erected at Uukwangula village, some 10 kilometers west of the regional capital of Oshakati. The Namibian newspaper, also citing Governor Kashuupulwa, reported in its Oshiwambo language section last Friday that the salt plant is to be erected at Uukwangula village to create employment and generate complementary revenue for regional development.
In terms of Article 108 (c) of the Namibian Constitution, Regional governments are vested with powers inter alia to raise their own revenue, in addition to income received from the central Government.
In an interview with NSHR Governor Kashuupulwa last Friday confirmed that the business venture, titled Oshana Salt Exploration Company, has already been registered in terms of the Decentralization Enabling Act. The main purpose of the proposed plant is to generate revenue for regional development and create employment for ‘a large number of people’.
Governor Kashuupulwa attempted to dispel public concern about ‘exclusive and unilateral privatization’ of saltpans in southern Owambo. He argued that the proposed salt company is intended to be a multi-share community-based income generating project benefiting not only the Oshana Region, but also the Caprivi, Kavango, Ohangwena, Oshikoto and Omusati Regions. He also confirmed that the pegging of the saltpans has already been done and that an environmental impact study have either been completed or were about to be completed soon.
In an attempt to allay concern about party political involvement in the company, Kashuupulwa said that the business venture would be run on the same principle as the northern electricity supply company, commonly known as NORED. He said revenue is to be collected from exporting the salt to African and European countries. Said Governor Kashuupulwa:
“No party politics will be involved. Whoever applies for share in the company would get such shares, regardless of political affiliation. There should be no fear, whatsoever. We are not looking for political partners, but business partners and finance to implement the scheme”.
However, Opposition Congress of Democrats (CoD) MP Abraham Ndumbu expressed concern that the privatization of the communal salt resource might lead to party political control of the saltpans and to salt becoming expensive and unaffordable to especially the poor.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior traditional leader in the Ondonga Traditional Authority also expressed concern that although a large portion of the saltpan is located in the Ondonga communal area his authority has yet to be consulted over the scheme. He warned that unilateral privatization of the saltpans might generate tribal tensions. NSHR was unable to obtain the comments of the Ongandjera and Uukwambi traditional authorities about the issue. However, The Namibian newspaper reported on Friday that the Ukwambi Traditional Authority is one of the principal stockholders in the salt company scheme.
There are also fears in human rights circles that the profit-driven privatization of the communal salt resources might have serious environmental, cultural and political consequences. Warned NSHR executive director Phil ya Nangoloh:
“We are not opposed to employment creation efforts per se. However, as human rights defenders our concerns about the scheme are obvious: income-generating business ventures of this nature result from neoliberal processes, such as privatization of natural resources and promotion of exports at the expense of local communities. Also, experience has shown that these neoliberal processes have locally led to uncontrolled and disruptive industrialization, proliferation of technologies aimed at maximizing profit with scant regard for resource sustainability as well as to rapid urbanization and environmental degradation.
In many cases in developing countries, such processes have provided a perfect cover for unprecedented corruption and mismanagement with very serious socio-economic consequences for the poor as well as human rights violations. Hence, we warn that unless handled with extreme care, the proposed salt plant could also become a source of unnecessary tribal tension or even open conflict as communities competence for access to natural resources”.
Furthermore, NSHR is also concerned about the prevalence of iodine deficiency disorders (IDDs) in the country caused by consumption of un-iodized salt. The most common symptom of IDD in the country is goiter—the swelling on the thyroid gland. The gland is responsible for producing regulating metabolic hormones in humans. Said ya Nangoloh:
“According to medical science information, goiter is caused when the thyroid gland swells due to lack of iodine in the diet. According to recent FAO figures around one third of the Namibian population between 6 and 21 years old suffered from IDD in 1990, while 22 percent of over 1 800 school-aged children were found to suffer from IDD in 1992. IDD prevalence ranged from 1.8 percent in South Central regions to 61.4 percent in the Caprivi Region. Children below 5 years of age were said to be most at risk. In the northwestern and northeastern areas, the prevalence of goiter in children below 5 years reached 65 percent and 27 percent respectively”.
Iodine deficiency is said to be the single greatest cause of intellectual impairment worldwide, leading to mental retardation, compromised growth and cretinism. Iodine deficiency is said to reduce human intelligence quotients by 10-15 percent and leads to increased rates of stillbirths and prenatal and infant mortality. Experts recently warned that the mental development of more than 70 million children in Africa is at risk due to iodine deficiency.
Hence, profit-driven mass production of un-iodized salt might also have very dire consequences for intellectuality in the country.
Since better late than never, NSHR calls upon the Oshana Regional Council to conduct through consultation with all stakeholders and stockholders, including all concerned traditional authorities, before the proposed salt scheme is put into operation.
For further enquiries, please call P. ya Nangoloh at Tel: 061 236 183 or Cell: 081 1299 886