The Windhoek High Court on Friday dismissed with costs an application by an energy and mineral exploration company, Red Soil, which sought an order to have Mines and Energy minister’s refusal to grant them a mining license in January 2021, declared unlawful.

Judge Esi Schimming-Chase also declared the matter final and removed it from the court roll. The company wanted the court to also review and set aside Minister Tom Alweendo’s decision.

Alweendo reportedly declined Red Soil Energy and Mineral Exploration’s application for a petroleum exploration license over Blocks 2512A and a portion of Block 2612A due to the company not meeting the requirements and its failure to demonstrate technical and financial capability to carry out exploration operations.

Red Soil Managing Director, Kaura Kaura in his argument also made damning allegations against the ministry’s Petrol Commissioner Maggy Shino, who he says informed him that his company was compliant with all the requirements of the ministry, but that the blocks are reserved for ‘politically connected people’.

Kaura, represented by Patrick Kauta also claims that Shino instructed him to withdraw his company’s application and apply for ‘any of the blocks west to those Red Soil applied for,’ which he refused.

Kaura, a geologist, has since attached alleged screenshots of missed WhatsApp calls from Shino, who he claims called him numerous times.

“I started receiving emissaries purportedly sent by the minister and Shino not to approach the court for review but rather attend to their office to settle the matter. The WhatsApp calls from Shino continued. The company’s legal practitioner on record then advised that I call back Shino and record our telephone conversation. I was able to do this and had the conversation transcribed,” Kaura claims in his affidavit.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency