Sustainable operational mining practices would be crucial if Namibia expected to optimise its diamond potential, the country’s minister of mines told delegates at a gathering of the Association of African Diamond Producing Countries in Windhoek.
Addressing the association’s 6th ministers’ meeting, Tom Alweendo said the successful and mindful mining of diamonds could also shine through to other sectors by helping to fund education, health and other pressing social economic needs.
By leveraging off Namibia’s vast mineral wealth, he stressed that the country’s ambitions to become a logistics hub for the region can be realised.
Plans for Namibia to become a logistics leader for SADC is part of President Hage Geingob’s national development plan, but funding for infrastructural construction and upgrades is often lacking.
Alweendo stated though that by mining Namibia’s mineral potential, the country could forge ahead with some of its other primary sector initiatives.
