Maputo, Sept. 11, 2026 (Lusa) - At least nine people have died in three days as a result of landslides linked to illegal mining in the region of Vanduzi, in Manica province, central Mozambique, the local administrator told Lusa on Friday.
The region administrator, Armindo Canhenze, said that six people died in the early hours of Thursday morning in a landslide at an illegal mining site known as ‘seis carros'; two lost their lives on Wednesday and one on Tuesday, also at a mining site in the same province.
«Instead of five people entering ‘seis carros' [the mining area], three thousand or two thousand people end up going in. So the numbers are much higher; there is no longer any discipline, no rules,» said the administrator, explaining that the large number of miners increases the risk of landslides.
According to Canhenze, in this mining area, the search for gold has led to a gradual increase in the excavated area, which is currently around 20 metres deep and 25 metres in diameter.
Excavation began at a depth of around half a metre after gold was discovered at the site, with the news attracting more and more miners.
The administrator said that, during the rainy season, the influx of hundreds or thousands of people weakens the ground and increases the risk of being buried.
The deaths of the six people on Thursday had been confirmed to Lusa by the Police, which stated that the victims died as a result of a landslide, with no reports of injuries.
The police spokesperson in Manica, Mouzinho Manasse, explained that reduced visibility at night makes it difficult to monitor mining areas.
«The landslides that have been occurring usually take place between midnight and three o'clock in the morning, at a time when visibility is very poor,» he said.
The authorities are preparing an excavator to fill in the pit and intend to maintain a police presence at the site to prevent anyone from entering, according to Canhenze, who said that the victims' bodies had already been recovered and handed over to their families.
He added that the authorities are complying with the decree suspending mining activity and have already set up six cooperatives, having submitted documentation for a possible resumption of mining in accordance with the terms laid down by the authorities.
This situation comes at a time when the Mozambican authorities have expressed concern about illegal and unregulated mining in Manica, due to the risks to communities, environmental impacts and the illegal exploitation of mineral resources.
In July, the attorney general's office warned of the presence of minors in illegal mining activities in Manica, after identifying around 900 excavation sites where several people were working, including children under the age of 15.
Also in June, the Mozambican Chamber of Mines warned of the problems associated with unregulated mining in the province and called for greater coordination between public and private institutions, at a time when new critical minerals are being discovered in Manica.
In 2025, the Government suspended the licences of mining companies due to environmental irregularities, including the absence of land rehabilitation plans and waste containment systems, following a report by the police pointing to «uncontrolled mining» in the province.
However, according to updated information from the government in August, 30 of the 41 suspended mining companies in Manica have already been authorised to resume operations, having complied with environmental requirements and mining regulations, whilst the remainder are currently under review.
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