The government has gazetted the Environmental Management Act, which provides for thorough environmental assessment studies and consultations with communities and relevant regional and local authorities before projects are undertaken. Environment and Tourism Minister Willem Konjore said this week that, as part of its constitutional obligation and through this Act, the ministry has taken a giant step in ensuring that future generations of Namibians inherit an environment similar to or even better than what the country is enjoying today.

The Act prescribes environmental management principles that all Government institutions and private persons must adhere to with regard to resource utilisation, land use and conservation.
The Act further provides for the creation of a development advisory council, the appointment of an environmental commissioner and environmental officers.
It lays down stiff sentences of N$500,000 or 25 years in prison for non-compliance, and gives a lot of power to the Environmental Commissioner and his deputy.
The commissioner will review all applications for environmental clearance certificates and issue these certificates after approval.
The commissioner must also travel around the country and carry out inspections to see if institutions and companies such as mines and tourism operations comply with the Environmental Management Act.
The commissioner further determines whether a listed activity requires an (environmental) assessment.
This means that any mining company or land developer for agricultural, industrial tourism or conservation activities must seek approval in the form of a clearance certificate from the commissioner.