Mozambique: Gold rush in Serra Vumba – O País

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Mozambique: Gold rush in Serra Vumba – O País

7:23 CAT | 24 Sep 2021

FILE - Illustrative photo. [File photo: O País]

This week, a group of people from Manica city invaded the foothills of the Vumba mountains in search of gold.

The situation is making the local authorities sleepless, and they are already launching a police offensive aimed at arresting the perpetrators.

Artisanal mining is the main cause of the pollution in the rivers that cross Manica province. After extracting the resource, artisanal miners wash the metal on the banks of the water courses, causing great damage.

For example, the Chicamba Reservoir, the largest artificial lake in Manica and the main source of tilapia [fish], is already suffering from pollution, its waters sometimes becoming cloudy.

Chicamba, which is located along the Messica River, receives water from several branches of the river, many carrying cloudy water caused by the mining.

‘O País’ visited the place on Thursday, but no one was there. The reason is simple – the activity is illegal and therefore it is carried out in the dead of night.

Anyone who passes by during the day would never imagine that there is a pot of gold there. Only at midnight do the miners begin the hunt for gold, far from the prying eyes of the police, ceasing their activities at around three o’clock in the morning.

Meanwhile, the Municipality of Manica, in the person of Mayor Patrício Chiamisso, says it is waging war against the miners, but no victory is in sight.

The war between the authorities of Manica and artisanal miners dates back to 2019, but those accused of environmental crimes say mining is their only means of survival.

“I went into mining to make money. I was surprised at the Municipal Police taking us to the cells,” one detainee said.

By Carlitos Cadangue

Source: O País