Maputo, Nov. 19, 2025 (Lusa) - Mozambique's government said it is aware of companies trying to maintain mining in Manica province, where mining is currently suspended, by resorting to artisanal mining, indicating that it wants sustainable extraction measures and benefits for the community.
"We are noticing some signs of some who have already been removed from the field. They are using the artisanal route to continue to control the mining scene. Still, the government is informed and is on the ground, with the commissions, with all its strength, to ensure that mining can happen, but within a normal legal framework, sustainable and whose benefits are national," explained the cabinet spokesman, Inocêncio Impissa, a body that met on Tuesday in Maputo.
At issue is the suspension, on 30 September, by the Mozambican government of all mining licences in the province of Manica, which then set up an inter-ministerial commission to review the licensing regime, strengthen inspection, and move forward with environmental recovery measures, following recurrent complaints of "serious pollution" of local rivers.
When asked about suspicions that companies owned by Mozambique's government leaders were continuing to exploit resources in Manica, despite the government's decision to suspend the activity due to environmental problems, the government spokesman said that all entities found to be illegally exploiting resources are being sanctioned.
"They are being rounded up for removal. Now, I don't actually know whose companies they are. In other words, at least we haven't been told who they are. When the Defence and Security Forces are on site and the labour commission arrives on site, the priority is not to find out whose company it is, but to take action," said Impissa.
He added that the government's priority is to ensure compliance with the rules to avoid the environmental damage seen before, indicating that the government's priority is to ensure these resources benefit local communities.
"Those who are in the area where these resources are extracted have different levels of government, and have to be able to benefit from the resources that are exploited in these places," said Impissa, insisting that the benefits of exploitation must accrue to the locals.
At the October cabinet meeting, the government decided that the commission set up to assess the environmental situation in Manica would continue on the ground, to monitor the repair of environmental damage caused by mining operators.
On 17 September, President Daniel Chapo said that mining was causing an "environmental disaster" in the region, acknowledging the suspension of all mining activities.
The suspension of mining licences in Manica follows the government's examination of the report of the operational command of the Defence and Security Forces (FDS), which worked in the province between 17 and 19 July to investigate the environmental situation related to mining.
On the ground, the commission found "uncontrolled mining" by licensed operators, including companies operating without environmental recovery plans or waste containment systems, as well as violations of workers' rights.
"Risks to national security and sovereignty were also found, as groups of foreigners involved in illegal mining were identified who enter through informal routes and feed parallel networks of gold trading, extortion and public insecurity, creating hotbeds of social tension," Impissa said at the time.
The government classified the environmental situation in Manica as "critical", pointing to the "serious pollution" of the rivers, which have "water with a reddish, cloudy, opaque colour", resulting from the direct washing of ores and the dumping of waste from this activity without any treatment.
PME/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
