25 Sep 2014

There is need to lobby for harmonisation of processes between department of environmental affairs, land boards and department of mines in order to expedite the sand mining licensing, Bangwato regent, Kgosi Sediegeng Kgamane has said.

The three departments involved fell under three different ministries of wildlife, environment and tourism, lands and housing as well as minerals, energy and water resources.

Speaking during the sensitisation workshop on sand mining, Kgosi Kgamane conceded that there were delays in issuance of mining licenses since the applicants were faced with the onus of having to traverse in between three offices before they could be issued with licenses. 

He said various reasons led to delays, but he emphasised that bottlenecks involved should be removed so that potential investors could not be chased by long waits.  After identifying a potential spot to mine, miners were advised to consult with the inhabitants of the place first. 

Such consultation has been deemed to curb potential conflicts since the spot could be used for other purposes current occupants as observed by Serowe sub land board chairman, Mr Seiphetho Sefhako. 

After consultation miners, he said would then seek prospecting license from the department of mines after which they (miners) will submit evaluation report to landboard for land use. 

He pointed out that miners will then return to department of mines to inform the office of their intention to start mining because the department will need soil specifications before mining could start. 

DEA should also be informed about the environmental impacts of the said mining activity before mining could actually commence.

But, it is the abovementioned processes that Kgosi Kgamane found to be long and discomforting to applicants.

However, he appealed to sand miners to stop illicit, uncontrolled and excessive mining of sand and gravel arguing that the law enforcers may be forced to prosecute such perpetrators. 

“I am of the understanding that the workshop is not intended to stop sand mining but to encourage responsible mining of the resource within the confines of the available pieces of legislature,” Kgosi Kgamane said adding that the use of sand and quarry gravel was inevitable and consequently could not be stopped.

At a workshop whose aim was to address issues such as environmental impact of gravel and sand mining, Kgosi Kgamane appealed to sand miners to desist from haphazard mining like it has been witnessed in some areas of Botswana where rehabilitation of the affected areas remained a challenge. 

Mr Sefhako conceded that at times his office delayed in the issuance of certificates for various reasons such as shortage of resources and applicants failing to fulfill requirements inter alia. 

He however, admitted that sand mining helped in the socio-economic development of the country as it offered employment to those who could otherwise be unemployed while at same time helping in erecting structures for human use. ENDS