The Mozambican government has ordered the immediate and complete suspension of all mining licenses in the central province of Manica, a drastic measure taken in response to widespread environmental pollution that has severely contaminated crucial sources of drinking water, including major rivers.
The decision, announced on Tuesday following a meeting of the Council of Ministers (cabinet), comes after a temporary halt to mining activities, ordered by the General Inspectorate of Mineral Resources and Energy (IGREME), was largely disregarded by operators. This failure to comply forced the government to escalate its intervention, aiming to shut down mining in the province entirely.
Inocêncio Impissa, the government spokesperson and Minister of State Administration, told reporters that the suspension was prompted by a disturbing report from the Operational Command of the Mozambican Defense and Security Forces (FDS), which had investigated the public health and security dangers posed by largely uncontrolled gold mining.
“It was observed that the seriousness of the ongoing situation has environmental, health, social, economic, and national public security implications,” Impissa said.
Licensed Operators Implicated in Negligence
While the crisis involves rampant illegal, unlicensed operations, Minister Impissa admitted that the “Uncontrolled mining is also perpetrated by licensed operators.” The Operational Command, coordinated by Defense Minister Cristóvão Chume, found that several licensed companies were operating without required environmental restoration plans or waste containment systems. Furthermore, they were found to be abandoning mining equipment, violating labor laws, and failing to uphold workers’ rights.
The report detailed a critical level of environmental degradation in rivers such as the Révuè, Nhauacaca, Zonue, Messica, Chimedza, and Mudza. These waters, once clear, have been rendered “reddish, cloudy, and opaque” due to the washing of minerals, particularly gold, and the unchecked release of metallic and chemical waste and excavated earth.
“Pollution affects drinking water supplies, putting the livelihoods of thousands of families and the functioning of health centers, schools, and municipal services at risk,” Impissa warned, noting that the contamination could trigger outbreaks of diseases including diarrhea, dermatitis, poisoning, and various waterborne infections.
The pollution has also severely threatened aquatic life and agricultural productivity, exacerbating poverty in communities that now struggle to find clean water for consumption and irrigation, leading to a decline in traditional fishing activities.
Toxic Contaminants and Security Risks
A core concern is the widespread use of mercury in gold-washing, a practice mining operations have made little effort to curb despite its high toxicity. Analysis of the Manica rivers and the Chicamba reservoir has revealed the presence of not only mercury but also other heavy metals, including lead, cadmium, and arsenic.
The crisis also carries a significant national security dimension. Minister Impissa reported that the mission identified “Risks to national security and sovereignty, as groups of foreigners are involved in illegal mining, entering the country through informal routes and fuelling parallel networks of gold trading, extortion, and public insecurity, creating pockets of social tension.”
The government has established an interministerial commission, also led by the defense minister, to tackle the multifaceted crisis. This commission is tasked with a comprehensive review of the current licensing regime, strengthening oversight, defining authorised mining zones, and creating effective accountability mechanisms.
The commission will also spearhead an environmental recovery plan, requiring the active participation of both offenders and local authorities.
“The suspension should be applied globally, covering both licensed operators and those operating illegally, to stem the decline and create an environment conducive to institutional reorganisation for sustainable operations,” Impissa concluded.
