Mozambique: Illegal gold mining reaches alarm levels in Lago district – Notícias

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Mozambique: Illegal gold mining reaches alarm levels in Lago district – Notícias

2:19 CAT | 17 Apr 2025

Illustrative image: Notícias

Illegal gold mining in Lupilichi in Lago district is a cause for concern, and more than enough reason to urgently create a checkpoint in Chiwindi, close to the Republic of Tanzania.

According to district administrator André Luendo, the checkpoint could also help monitor the border, which is proving porous.

Luendo also worries that the responsible entities – specifically the Immigration Service – are incapable of managing this problem, especially since Chiwindi is evolving and the flow of people using the border is increasing.

According to the source, a checkpoint could help reduce the large number of illegal immigrants passing through the area, and would also help monitor the entire coast of Lake Niassa, up to the town of Cobué.

Lupilichi is a rich area, not only because of the gold that is found there, but also because of the abundance of natural resources, including fishing and illegal mining, which attract many people.

“Illegal miners enter the area and engage in mining because we have no control. One day we run the risk of waking up here surprised by terrorism. Because where there is mining, with all these riches, there is no shortage of conflicts,” Luendo warned.

He revealed at the time that some miners go as far inland as the coast of Lake Niassa, more than 150 kilometres away, but without any legal documentation, to the alarm of the district administration.

Although he did not provide figures, Luendo emphasised that, as a result of this situation, natural riches are exploited in an uncontrolled manner, which contributes to the loss of revenue for the state. In fact, there are many illegal companies present in the area, carrying out surveys and exploration of resources.

‘‘The losses are enormous, because from what I have seen, many goods enter the country without any inspection. Therefore, although there are no estimates, the state is actually accumulating huge losses, which is why we really need to set up a simplified border post as soon as possible,” Luendo noted.

In view of this, the district administrator is calling on the authorities to review conditions at the Chiwindi border, taking into account that on the Tanzanian side there is infrastructure where even passports may be validated, unlike on the Mozambican side, where the Immigration facilities are at the administrative post in Cobué, far from the location in question.

Among the problems in area is the smuggling of various products, due to the lack of inspection, and people entering or leaving the country without observing legal procedures.

Source: Notícias