Timoteus Mufetisaidthe move is necessary to enable Municipality of Walvis Bay to manage landfill and enforce bylaws
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“Environmental commissioner Timoteus Mufeti on Tuesday said the move is necessary to enable the Municipality of Walvis Bay to manage the landfill and enforce its bylaws.”
Timoteus Mufetisaidthe ministry has already issued a compliance order to stop the dumping of waste at the site
Source
“Responding, environmental commissioner at the environment Timoteus Mufeti said the ministry has already issued a compliance order to stop the dumping of waste at the site.”
Environmental commissioner Timoteus Mufetisaid the future of uranium mining depends onan independent assessment from the International Atomic Energy Agency
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“The anticipated future of uranium mining in the Omaheke region depends on an independent assessment from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), environmental commissioner Timoteus Mufeti said.”
Environmental Commissioner Timoteus Mufeticonfirmedno final decision yet made on Leonardville uranium ISL mining project
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“THE Environmental Commissioner, Timoteus Mufeti, has confirmed that no final decision has yet been made concerning the proposed uranium in-situ leach (ISL) mining project in the Leonardville area of the Omaheke Region.”
Environmental Commissioner Timoteus Mufetistated that Namibia lacksexperience and technical expertise to assess environmental impact of in-situ leach mining
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“According to environmental commissioner Timoteus Mufeti, Namibia does not have the experience or technical expertise to assess the potential environmental impact of this type of mining.”
Environmental commissioner Timoteus Mufetisaidthe idea of creating the CMA has been parked because there has not been an appetite for its implementation
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“During the open session for questions at the stakeholder consultation on the proposed sand and gravel mining regulations for the Oshana and Omusati regions, held at Ongwediva at the end of last month, environmental commissioner Timoteus Mufeti said the idea of creating the CMA has since been parked because there has not been "an appetite for its implementation".”
Timoteus MufetisaysNamibia is nearing banning production and importation of certain plastic products
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“At a similar engagement for the Ohangwena and Oshikoto regions at Eenhana, environmental commissioner Timoteus Mufeti has said Namibia is nearing banning the production and importation of certain plastic products.”
Timoteus Mufetisaysministry has closed illegal sand mining sites and rehabilitated about 30 sand-mined sites
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“He says the ministry has closed numerous illegal sand mining sites and rehabilitated about 30 sand-mined sites, some of which date back to the pre-independence period.”
Walvis Bay mayor Johannes Shimbilinga has pledged to address landfill fires that have blanketed parts of the town in smoke, citing public health and air quality concerns. He attributed the fires to unauthorised activity and tyre burning, announced an immediate ban on tyre dumping, and said the municipality is working to transfer land within Dorob National Park to improve site management.
Walvis Bay mayor Johannes Shimbilinga has pledged to address landfill fires that have blanketed parts of the town in smoke, citing public health and air quality concerns. He attributed the fires to unauthorised activity and tyre burning, announced an immediate ban on tyre dumping, and said the municipality is working to transfer land within Dorob National Park to improve site management.
The Ministry of Environment and Tourism will remove part of the Walvis Bay landfill from Dorob National Park to allow the municipality full management authority and ability to enforce bylaws. The ministry has issued a compliance order against illegal tyre burning at the site, which residents report creates toxic smoke affecting the town, and has flagged health risks from living near the landfill.
A controlled landfill in Walvis Bay has transformed into an informal settlement housing over 100 shacks and more than 300 people, with residents reporting illegal tyre burning, undercover prostitution, domestic violence, and drug activity. The situation raises serious environmental and health concerns for surrounding communities, prompting authorities to engage stakeholders on de-proclaiming the portion within Dorob National Park to enable better municipal management.
The government is seeking an independent technical assessment from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) before deciding on Headspring Investments' application to conduct four-year test mining using in-situ leaching in the Omaheke region. Environmental Commissioner Timoteus Mufeti said the decision will prioritise science-based evaluation of impacts on the Stampriet Transboundary Aquifer System and community rights, with the IAEA's technical report expected to undergo inter-ministerial review before March.
The Environmental Commissioner confirmed no final decision has been made on the proposed uranium in-situ leach mining project in Leonardville, Omaheke Region. The government is awaiting a technical assessment from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which conducted an independent review mission in February 2026 to evaluate environmental, groundwater, health and safety impacts before the government decides whether to proceed.
Namibia's environment ministry will base its decision on a proposed uranium mining project in Omaheke on scientific findings, not politics, the government said. The project—an in-situ leach mining operation by Headsprings Investments (under Russian state-owned Rosatom)—has raised concerns about contamination of the Stampriet aquifer, which supplies water to the region and neighbouring countries. The government has requested a technical assessment from the International Atomic Energy Agency, which will deliver its report in March.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has halted implementation of the proposed Coastal Management Authority citing overlaps with existing legislation, particularly the Fisheries Act and Pollution Act. Ministry officials say functions such as coastal pollution responsibility were unclear, as the department of maritime affairs already handles such matters.
Namibia's amended Environmental Management Act will extend legal protections to ecosystems like natural springs and habitats previously unprotected, and set standards for noise, smell, water and air quality. The ministry is consulting on proposed sand and gravel mining regulations and has flagged unprecedented illegal sand mining as a major environmental concern, attributing it to weak management, corruption, and insufficient enforcement.
The Uukwambi Traditional Authority has started rehabilitating sand-mined borrow pits in its jurisdiction, including at Onatshiku village in Oshana region, after residents questioned the delay. The authority must submit detailed rehabilitation plans to the Ministry of Environment and Tourism for approval, and is responsible for funding the work, which operators can carry out using their equipment.