On the right side of the Okavango River, Canadian company ReconAfrica has leased more than 34000 square kilometers of land for oil and gas exploration in the watershed of the world-famous Okavango Delta. Photo: (c) Jeffrey Barbee
By JEFFREY BARBEE and LAUREL NEME
July 27, 2022
THE Canadian company drilling for oil and gas in Namibia's Kavango regions, Reconnaissance Energy Africa (ReconAfrica), is accused of intimidating community leaders and journalists for questioning the project.
The company is embroiled in a court action launched by local communities, who allege their rights have been trampled upon, while community leaders and journalists say they have been intimidated and stonewalled for questioning the project.
There are also concerns that ReconAfrica had access to mobile phone communications of one of the community leaders opposed to the drilling.
On 15 June, environmental commissioner Timoteus Mufeti granted an extension to the company's original Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC), allowing it to drill more wells. This decision prompted community leaders to lodge an urgent appeal against the extension on 22 June, saying the environmental analysis was inadequate and they had not been properly consulted.
The court action was lodged by the Legal Assistance Centre (LAC) on behalf of the Kavango East and West Community Conservancy and Forestry Association, the Muduva Nyangana Community Conservancy, the Katope Community Forest, and the Ncumcara Community Forest.
The appeal gave the minister five days to stop the environmental commissioner's decision, after which the petitioners would take the matter to the High Court.
The minister did not respond, and the community had their day in court on 13 July. The judge's decision is scheduled for 3 August.
The crux of the community's argument, outlined in the court papers, is that the environmental commissioner amended ReconAfrica's original ECC to allow new drilling sites “without a proper environmental impact assessment” and that the drilling has “a high propensity of adverse and significant impacts to the natural environment which are irreparable once done”.
Waste pits for potentially toxic oil drilling waste at ReconAfrica's 2nd drill site. International best practice requires oil and gas drillers to line their pits with a liner to protect groundwater from toxic pollution. Photo: (c) Jeffrey Barbee
STONEWALLING AND INTIMIDATION
Meanwhile, community leaders and journalists also allege ReconAfrica staff has blocked them from engaging in community meetings and refused to answer their questions.
At an 18 June Kavango East Farmers Union meeting at Rundu, ReconAfrica personnel allegedly prevented people from entering, although the union had called the meeting.
Max Muyemburuko, the chairperson of the Kavango East and West Communal Conservancy and Forestry Association, and Frank Steffen, the chairperson of the Namibian Editors Forum, said they were initially refused entry to the meeting by ReconAfrica representatives until after farmers at the meeting threatened to walk out.
Journalist John Grobler reported that ReconAfrica repeatedly postponed or cancelled scheduled meetings regarding its first seismic survey. He told The Namibian that the company has repeatedly failed to answer his questions and tried to prevent community members from speaking to him.
“It is standard stonewalling. They will not give you straight answers.”
He said “there's a culture of silence that's being imposed on everybody in the region. You either shut up and go with ReconAfrica's programme, or else you will be ostracised”.
Kavango community members, who have spoken out against the company, say they have experienced similar problems.
For instance, on 25 March, after a community meeting attended by ReconAfrica, Muyemburuko was allegedly detained for six hours at the Rundu Police Station. The police allegedly accused Muyemburuko and two human rights workers, who prefer to be unnamed, of misinforming the public and polarising communities through their activism against the Canadian company.
Muyemburuko filed a legal letter of complaint with the police commissioner. However, Kavango East regional police commissioner Johanna Ngondo denied knowledge of either Muyemburuko's letter or detention.
Three eyewitnesses to the event have confirmed Muyemburuko's account.
Max Muyemburuko, the chairperson of the Kavango East and West Communal Conservancy and Forestry Association. Photo: (c) Jeffrey Barbee
EAVESDROPPING
Kapinga Kamwalye Community Conservancy chairperson Thomas Muronga alleged that on 18 June, at a Farmers Union meeting, ReconAfrica's spokesperson Ndapewoshali Shapwanale showed him that she had access to his private WhatsApp messages, he told The Namibian.
Muronga said he reported the incident at the Rundu Police Station on 28 June.
Ngondo said she did [not] know Muronga or any case involving him.
Shapwanale could not comment on the issue regarding Muronga's private WhatsApp messages. She also said the company could not comment on the court case because it is ongoing.
The United Nations also weighed in on ReconAfrica's activities. Responding to concerns by Namibia's Women's Leadership Centre and Saving Okavango's Unique Life (Soul) about ReconAfrica's drilling operation, the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner said it is concerned about the lack of public participation in ReconAfrica's drilling project.
It called upon the Namibian government to “ensure that any decisions on oil and gas exploitation in the Kavango region are subject to the full, prior and informed consent of local communities.”
To find out more read the other stories in this series and follow the authors on Twitter: @JeffreyBarbee and @LaurelNeme
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93 w
What's the African Union doing toward the matter.
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@leendert_aboazy nothing
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94 w
This is sad! I hate how they impose fear to whistle blowers.
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94 w
It is very scary to read that the oil industry is willing to violate human rights such as privacy and the freedom of press to keep destroying our planet and future
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94 w
Thank you for sharing updates about this project, these are very alarming examples of privacy and freedom of press violations. This project shouldn't go further, we don't have time