The Mozambican government is escalating efforts to enforce a temporary ban on gold mining in Manica province, prompted by severe environmental degradation and water pollution. The Police of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM) is now urging the public to report violations, particularly those occurring under the cover of night.
The Deputy General Commander of the PRM, Aquilasse Manda, called on community and religious leaders during a public rally in Muzongo to aid law enforcement. The appeal follows a decree temporarily halting all gold extraction in Manica after operations by both legal companies and illegal artisanal miners resulted in widespread environmental damage.
Focus on Enforcement
Manda confirmed that despite a deployed environmental control force, non-compliance persists. “Illegal gold mining has caused severe water pollution, rendering it unfit for consumption due to the presence of heavy metals,” Manda stated. He acknowledged that “some companies are breaking the rules by operating in the dead of night,” and affirmed that police are committed to taking firm action against violators.
The police official stressed that the suspension is a necessary step before mining activities can eventually resume in a regulated manner that protects community access to clean water and aquatic resources.
Arrests and Regulatory Review
The enforcement push has already led to arrests. Government spokesperson Inocêncio Impissa announced that a group of Chinese nationals was detained last week in Manica for disobeying the mining suspension order.
In a related move, the government has established a technical committee to review the environmental management plans of four mining companies operating in Tete province. This 30-day review process signals the government’s broader commitment to tightening regulatory oversight across the national mining sector to ensure environmental sustainability.
