Tourists flocking to the sun-drenched beaches and vibrant markets of Pemba, the capital of Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province, are being urged to exercise extreme caution when purchasing rubies. The Montepuez Ruby Mining (MRM) company, a major player in the region’s burgeoning gemstone industry, has issued a stark warning: illegal ruby sellers are operating brazenly in tourist hotspots, often in cooperation with foreign visitors, offering “poor quality and illegally mined rubies at well-known Pemba hotels.”
MRM, 75% owned by the UK-based Gemfields and 25% by local partner Mwiriti Limitada, paints a grim picture of a shadowy trade that not only short-changes unsuspecting tourists but also drains vital tax revenue from Mozambique’s economy.
The company’s statement highlights a disturbing trend: “In addition to overpaying for poor quality and illegally mined rubies, there are reports of certain complicit members of the authorities extorting money from tourists when threatening them for buying illegal rubies.” This suggests a deeply entrenched network of illicit activity that undermines both the legitimate mining sector and the reputation of Mozambican tourism.
MRM confirmed that it has already escalated these concerns to authorities at district, provincial, and national levels, “in the hope that action will be taken more proactively against those who are financing, facilitating and encouraging the illegal trade in Mozambican rubies.” The illegal sale of these precious stones, they argue, directly harms the nation by depriving it of much-needed income from its rich mineral resources.
Cabo Delgado, a province historically rich in diverse subsoil resources including rubies, gold, tourmalines, and other precious stones, has attracted significant business interest in recent years. However, despite the granting of numerous mining licenses, the region continues to grapple with challenges.
Just last year, the Mozambican government undertook a significant crackdown, withdrawing approximately 200 unused mining licenses out of 595 issued in Cabo Delgado. The move was a direct response to businesses failing to invest in the concessions they had been granted years prior. Currently, only eight mining concessions are actively operating in the province, a stark reminder of the untapped potential and ongoing struggles to regularise and maximise the benefits of its mineral wealth.
As the Montepuez rubies continue to capture global attention for their exceptional quality, the fight against the illicit trade intensifies. For visitors to Pemba, the message is clear: buyer beware. What might seem like a glittering bargain could well be funding an illegal network that ultimately diminishes Mozambique’s prosperity.
