The Erongo Governor has called for an urgent reform to mining policies to support small-scale miners in the Daures constituency.

Nathalia |Goagoses made this remark during the official opening of the induction and ordination seminar for members of the National Council held at Swakopmund.

|Goagoses urged lawmakers to review the issuing of Exclusive Prospecting Licences (EPLs), saying current policies are failing communities living in resource-rich areas.

She revealed that, despite vast mineral deposits, including lithium and tin, the Daures Constituency remains one of the poorest in the country, according to the 2023 population census.

She stressed that Namibia's natural wealth must benefit all citizens, regardless of race, background, or political affiliation.

She also raised concerns that communities have seen little infrastructure or economic development despite ongoing mining activities. 

|Goagoses further highlighted the challenges faced by small-scale miners, many of whom have been operating on ancestral land long before independence.

She says today, some of these miners are now being classified as illegal due to current licensing systems.

She also pointed to the struggles faced by the settlement of Uis, citing its remote location, limiting access to resources, and a lack of investment as key barriers to development.