The country's zinc exports are expected to come under threat when workers at the Skorpion Zinc mine go on strike at midnight this Friday. Last year, the company produced 150 000 tonnes of special high grade (SHG). The Mineworkers Union of Namibia said earlier in the week that 480 of its members at the mine will go on strike at midnight on Friday.

Secretary general Joseph Hengari told the Economist that the union had exhausted all legal procedures under Namibian law before declaring the strike.
“We have exhausted all procedures under the labour law and unless something else happens, our members will strike on Friday,” he said.
He said management at Skorpion Zinc had already been notified of the strike officially.
Skorpion Zinc Mine's communications manager, Usi Hoebeb, said by telephone that the company had not yet released an official statement on the strike.
The workers earlier voted in favour of a strike following a wage dispute with management. The union said workers decided by a 90% vote in favour of industrial action.
The union and mine management failed to reach an agreement during a two-day conciliation session. The miners are demanding an above inflation wage hike of 14% while Skorpion Zinc has offered 10%.