A huge tremor like disagreement has erupted at Tsumeb and central government has been sucked into the dispute as neither of the two parties involved wants to back off.

The core of the argument is whether or not Namibia Customs Smelter has put Tsumeb residents and surrounding vegetation in harm’s way by smelting Bulgarian copper concentrates.

Workers and half of the trade union representatives say yes, and point at international experts who say while the Bulgarian complex copper concentrate is the most profitable it is also the most harmful to humans and the environment.

Namibia Customs Smelter said that no and the reasons for processing Bulgarian concentrates while the Namibian copper is processed outside are purely economic. So serious is the matter that it now has a direct bearing on the annual negotiations for wages, salaries and general benefits.

Workers told New Era that they want a health scheme that allows them frequent visits to doctors or health facilities without additional payment with each visit, because the exposure to toxics necessitates multiple visits to health facilities.

Workers maintain that the general health level within the workforce is deteriorating, because of exposure to arsenic and sulphur oxide. Namibia Customs Smelter however, denies the claim, saying in house investigations have produced no direct link between the illnesses displayed by workers and exposure to arsenic acid. Workers, speaking on condition of anonymity now accuse MUN leadership of abandoning the fight and siding with the management.

Mr Jim Kastelic Namibia Customs Smelter said that Namibia Customs Smelter said that it will wait for independent reports by a team of doctors from the Ministry of Health and Social Services. We will accept the findings and conclusion of this independent body.

The company said that it would not make commercial sense to smelt the Bulgarian and Namibian copper concentrates, if the Namibian one which is less complex, could be treated somewhere else. It reasons, in an elaborate statement, that Namibian copper has fewer impurities compared to the copper concentrate from Bulgaria that contains high levels of complex polymetallic sulphide ores. Only a few smelters such as the Tsumeb, can treat Bulgarian copper concentrates.

Workers, however, are adamant that there is more to this than meets the eye. They point out that Bulgarian copper has a heavy metal presence and if not well set up, the production process is lethal to humans. The production process is said to generate solid, liquid or gaseous waste that represents a considerable source of pollution with heavy metals and sulphur derivatives. The impact is hazardous on the soil, vegetation, water resources and ultimately, human health.

(Sourced from www.newera.com.na)