The Chamber of Mines of Namibia would like to pay a heartfelt tribute to Mark Dawe who passed away aged just 61 on 4 December 2024 at his home in Windhoek after fighting a two-year battle with a brain tumour (glioblastoma).
Mark was a qualified metallurgist and hydro-geologist who became a hugely influential and respected member of Namibia’s mining community. He joined Okorusu Fluorspar mine when it got a second lease of life in 1988 and was appointed MD of the mine when it was taken over by Solvay Fluor GmbH in 1997. Under Mark’s leadership, production at Okorusu soared and it became Namibia’s largest bulk exporter employing over 200 people. The mine closed during the global financial crisis and never fully recovered with the depletion of viable ore reserves leading Solvay to sell the mine in 2016. By that stage Mark had been headhunted by B2Gold Namibia and appointed MD of its new Otjikoto mine in 2015. The mine went on to become one of Namibia’s leading mining companies helped by the sustained increase in the international price of gold. He stepped down after his cancer diagnosis in late 2022.
Mark’s achievements encompassed far more than successfully running two major mines. As President of the Chamber during two stints – 2005-07 and then again 2011-13 – Mark spearheaded a number of critical initiatives. His instinct was always to engage with Government, something he did when mineral royalties were unexpectedly introduced in 2005 and when new tax measures were announced in 2011. Mark always believed that taxes should be levied on profits rather than turnover. On both occasions he led the Chamber’s efforts to successfully engage with Government to the benefit of both the industry and the national economy. This he did by fearlessly harnessing data, facts and analysis and putting his case convincingly and respectfully. On both occasions he was aided by Chamber CEO Veston Malango, whom he had been instrumental in recruiting from Ongopolo Mining and Processing in 2005. Together Mark and Veston created a formidable partnership, and one that was always open to input from Chamber members and always keen to put the industry’s case to Government. They laid the basis for what the Chamber is today.
During Mark’s first term the Chamber developed its first Empowerment Policy designed according to Mark to be “the most effective means of making a real and lasting difference to the standard of living and quality of life of previously and presently disadvantaged Namibians”. Believing it was vital for Namibians to better understand the industry that formed the foundation of the Namibian economy, Mark also opened up the mining industry in a way that had not been done before leading to the publication of a detailed and informative annual review which has gone on to become a regular feature and a publication of international quality. Mark was a passionate believer in mining and in the mission of the Chamber.
Mark was a keen observer of the global mining industry and had seen the damage that outright nationalisation had caused in other countries. He believed that a thriving and profitable industry represented the best hope for economic growth, employment, and skills development in Namibia and was immensely proud of the fact that its mining industry operated according to world-leading standards of skills and technology. He believed a profitable industry had a duty to give back to Namibia, not only by paying the taxes that were due but through everything it did from employment to procurement to environmental impact and community development. This is something he very much put into practice himself at B2Gold through its innovative use of solar energy as well as the Nakayale Private Academy for orphans and marginalised children, through the mine’s Erhardtshof Agriculture Project, through its support of the Namibian Chamber of Environment, and through its corporate social responsibility.
Mark brought vision, energy, passion and a belief in people to everything he did. The Chamber is immensely proud to have counted Mark as one of its members and would like to publicly acknowledge the remarkable contribution he made to our industry and our country. Namibia would have been much poorer without him. We offer our most heartfelt condolences to his two sons Sasha and Alon and his beloved partner Maren.
May Mark’s soul rest in eternal peace.
