By Estacio Valoi
From north to south Mozambique in a dizzying descent in the race for mining exploration in Mozambique all the way down from Cabo Delgado, Tete, Nampula, Beira, Zambezia, Inhambane provinces were concessions during the last decades have been granted like mushrooms for multinationals linked to the main political party FRELIMO and other goons benefiting in trillions of dollars leaving nothing or almost nothing for the local communities.
People, communities are sipping around on their own land in favour of a small elite with his multinational friend companies such as the British mining company Gemfields, the Canadian based FURA, Vulcan Resources – VALE , Huyan , Syran , SASOL and other . In spite of government policies supposed to assist community-based mining, villagers who had hoped to explore got scars, deaths caused by bullets people buried alive, mutilated, wounded, jailed, no Jobs “the wealth beneath their feet” were “cheated.”
By Estacio Valoi
The local organizations community in Inhambane says that has earned little from natural gas exploitation by the South African petrochemical group Sasol in Pande and Temane, in the country’s Inhambane province Mozambique.
“When you look at the examples from Tete, Vale, Cabo Delgado, These are interesting experiences, important to see. Cabo Delgado did not see the direct benefit for the communities due to the problems that exist there. Tete with VALE we know what happened, it is happening to the surrounding communities, heavy sand in Moma we know what impacts happened to the communities, we are not seeing anything that could be different in this area compared to what happened , it is happening in these other areas, provinces!”
Inhambane province its main activities are fishing and tourism but now the government currently carrying out a consultation on mining activities involving some companies in different areas from oil and gas , heavy sands
Mario Gonga from Blue planet Consultation in the province of Inhambane ‘It’s a study that will be carried out and we think about those who will fail. Firstly, the marine life that exists in this area is special, such as whales, sea turtles, dugongs and others such as fish and possibly if these studies that are intended to be carried out could create irreversible impacts on these marine species, affecting biodiversity directly in the area of tourism, fishing and also the life of the communities in this area, here in the area of Bazaruto, Inhanssoru and also here in the Vilanculos area, so we want to believe that it is not time for a project that could interest the community here
‘No mining, we are not interested, local organizations, communities says ‘ we don’t want it and the risks are high.”
Mario Gonga from Blue Planet environmental organization in Vilanculo before starts explaining what is have been happening during this week in that place of Mozambique . Starts rising questions which were done during the consultation meeting
What are the guarantees of zero risk to the environment and marine ecosystem on our coast!? What are the compensations if there are adverse impacts after the first phase of seismic research in tourism and fishing? At today’s meeting in Vilanculos, there was strong opposition expressed by the wider community. The following points were specifically addressed:
– Unavoidable impacts on tourism and artisanal fishermen; Very close proximity to two designated conservation areas; Status of KBA, IMMA, hot spot for migratory birds, nesting site for 5 species of sea turtles; Precedents in South Africa, where requests for seismic testing were refused in less sensitive environments; Totally inadequate community involvement; Other important investment projects (hundreds of millions of dollars) focused on ecotourism, environmental protection and community development that will be compromised by this activity; Inaccurate and selective reporting of megafauna occurrences during today’s presentation; Conflict with government and international goals of 30×30 and Blue Economy.
It is very important that further technical and scientific concerns are presented in writing by both organizations.
Out of their land, sea
The mining companies only cares about profit while the government apart of few taxes also expect to receive many commissions under the table . New concession are about to be granted in the South province of inhambane which has great tourism potential and investment opportunities along its 700 kilometres of coastline, with beaches lapped by crystalline waters, great scenic beauty and diversity of marine and terrestrial flora and fauna and huge community fisheries and auscultation has been going on .
Vilanculo, Bazaruto are also targets. Exemple “the archipelago is a group of 5 islands on the Mozambique coast, rich in biodiversity, including the largest dugong population in the EAME region. It has been classified as an island group of world significance and considered a priority seascape for conservation. It is a successful story in marine park conservation.
The book entitled A Natural History of Bazaruto Archipelago, Mozambique provides a comprehensive and multi-disciplinary overview of the social, economic and ecological aspects of the Archipelago of Bazaruto.
Proponent of the consultation ‘and the government that hired a company that ‘is Searcher and Impacto company doing environmental study. These are the three that are in this process but the community says no, even if it is a large project that can exploit gas, and they really want to understand whether we have gas or not, here the community unanimously says no. you don’t need these projects because we live here based on fishing, the entire community here is fishing and normally, if there is greater damage, we don’t know what the level of compensation will be, both for the tourist and other sectors. of fishermen.
For Gonga from Blue Planet in Vilanculo Speaking of Bazaruto, one of the projects is the exploration of heavy sand by a corrupt Chinese Good said that is still early to talk about it considering that their still in pre study stage and they are carrying out an environmental impact study, making a presentation of what is involved and a report that indicates that if these studies are carried out there will be less fatal damage. “Despite the the pre stage of the process here the community fishing, tourism operators are saying no. We don’t want the studies which are being carried on and doesn’t matter what the final report says all seismic activities have an impact that is not minimal and we believe there is fatal damage and the technologies that they are used today is not yet 100% reliable and especially in a sensitive area like this in terms of the habitat of special species. It is irreversible and they cannot minimize says that the damage will be minimum we do not believe we want Zero damage and risks, protection and contribution for the ecosystems to the areas that still exist”.
By Estacio Valoi /Angoche
From fisheries and tourism to mining
And here is where the famous sand mining company like
At the time while the municipal elections were looming to accommodate the FRELIMO part in this 2023 and 2024, the newly licensed mine alongside multiple additional prospecting licenses spanning this ecologically important coastline, despite overwhelming evidence of the damage that will result to this biodiversity hotspot.
Heavy sands mining license issued in a coastal biodiversity hotspot adjacent to world-famous Bazaruto National Park in Mozambique.
A Chinese mining company with a history of human rights and environmental violations is moving ahead on a project that threatens a critically important coastal ecosystem and the livelihoods of dozens of indigenous communities.
Sustainable development proponents argue that viable alternatives to this environmental destruction exist, and that the much needed development of communities can be achieved by leveraging millions of dollars in funding ready and available to protect both people and the ecosystem they depend on for survival.
Moma district/ mining area Haiyu Mozambique Mining, Co.
Haiyu Mozambique Mining, Co.Lda, a subsidiary of Hainan Haiyu Mining Co.ltd and Africa Great Wall Mining Development Company, lda, has been awarded a 20-year mining concession of 3.189,66 hectares (https://portals.landfolio.com/mozambique/en/) and authorization to extract 93.77 million tons of heavy sands reserves for zircon and illuminant according to the companies deputy general manager Juyi Li (MZNEWS article on 3rd of May 2022). With municipal and presidential elections looming in 2023 and 2024, the newly licensed mine alongside multiple additional prospecting licenses spanning this ecologically important coastline, despite overwhelming evidence of the damage that will result to this biodiversity hotspot.
In 2018, Haiyu Mozambique Mining was the subject of an Amnesty International investigation and international report after residents exposed serious violations of national and international laws taking place in their community of Nagonha, Nampula Province. The Haiyu mining operation destroyed the coastal landscape in such a way as to cause severe flooding, destroyed coastal dunes, cleared coastal Miombo forests, dumped mining waste on wetlands, buried two major lagoons and the waterways that connected communities to the ocean, and exposed communities to toxic chemicals. The project destroyed homes leaving 290 people homeless and dozens of fishers families lost access to their livelihoods.
But the damage isn’t stopping there. Recently Haiyu applied for another mining license in the province of Inhambane, district of Vilankulo just south of two of the most important marine
conservation areas in Mozambique: Bazaruto National Park and the Vilanculos Wildlife Sanctuary. The area south of this newly licensed mine spanning between Bazaruto and Pomene is currently under consideration as a protection zone due to its ecological status and its essential importance for sustaining coastal communities.
The approval of the Haiyu mining license violates multiple commitments, national priorities and strategies made by Mozambique to identify important marine biodiversity hotspots and establish new Marine Protected Areas, protect coral reefs, mangroves, sea grass beds, and miombo forests. The area is one of only two remaining areas in Mozambique’s where coastal Miombo forests reach the sea.
The significant environmental damage predicted to occur as a result of the mining was outlined in a report to government in 2020, and at the time the mining concession was not approved and helped to protect this area and its people not only from harmful extractive mining operations but also from a company with a destructive track record and record of human rights violations.
Meanwhile, in 2022 and despite the company’s history of grave violations, Haiyu ́s deputy director, Juyi Li announced they had gained the DUAT (Official Document of Use and Exploration of Land) and have been authorized to explore and market heavy sands. Apparently mandated public hearings were performed, but several stakeholders were not communicated and are not clear if this step was actually done..
According to reports, Haiyu ́s operations have started with several vehicles operating in the area, which may indicate that operations are moving ahead. If Haiyu ́s operations in Nagonha, Nampula are anything to measure the impact on communities by, Inhambane is in serious trouble. Nagonha ́s communities have themselves declared in response to the open pit mining’s impacts that ́ ́our lives mean nothing. ́ ́
Another victim of Haiyu ́s operation in Nagonha said: ́ ́The forests are gone. The cashew nut trees are gone. The forests had trees for fruits, for traditional medicines, for firewood, that we used. When our children went swimming, they ate masalas. Now all the wild fruits that our children used to eat are gone. Our children would leave in the morning and get lost in the forest eating wild fruit and swimming in the lagoons and return home after 12:00pm happy. Now it’s all gone and cannot do that ́ ́.
As of 2023, three additional prospecting licenses around the new Haiyu mining concession have been granted. One from the Africa Yuxiao Mining Development Company K Lda, Stelio Timóteo Marimba and Malaca Mineiros SU Lda.These mines would cover a total area of 610 km2 of coastal sand dunes and coastal Miombo forest (one of only two such forests remaining in Mozambique), prime turtle nesting grounds, a whale sanctuary, and a diverse system of coral reefs.
What will become of communities and these important ecosystems? Do our lives and our natural resources continue to mean nothing?
Impunity with support from leaders of the Mozambican political nomenclature (FRELIMO)
It is another ‘mafia’ on the local population that has been dragging on since the end of 2023 until now 2024, perpetrated by the mining company Haiyu Mozambique Mining, which has been exploring heavy sands for years in some communities in the district of Moma, in the province of Nampula.
Haiyu Mozambique Mining, Co. Lda this time and no less serious, in a process full of irregularities, imposed the payment of compensation to the communities of Nacalela, Mpode, Muripa, Natupi and Mpuitne in the District of Moma in the Province of Nampula, ignoring the dimensions of each piece of land previously occupied by these communities.
“There are USD 238.09 for each family or community member”. And, given these situations that are happening in the District of Moma, which are not new, they happen in the eyes of the district government and its entire conniving structure. They are not going to say that in 4 communities, people have farms with the same dimensions, culture and therefore 238.09 for each person, family. This is not correct. must be based on the compensation table approved by the Ministry of Agriculture. Each type of crop or plant has its own precariousness in the table.”
The mining company ignored all these procedures, transforming the communities into “an authentic robbery. “The Government is favoring the mining company, We are realizing that the company feeds the heads of localities, heads of posts and directors and even the top structure, in exchange for the disgrace of the population, it is not possible that such process do take place within of a community mainly for compensation without the District Economic Activity Service (SIDAE) being aware.”
Moma district/ mining area Haiyu Mozambique Mining, Co.
According to Eduardo Muchaiabande, President of Association of Paralegals for Assistance in Supporting Sustainable Community Development (APAADEC), paralegal, human rights defender (social activist) it is important that it is resolved in a good way, to guarantee the good name of the local government and the company’s credibility and that those involved in this scandal are punished .
“We aware that Secretary from Natupi , Amozi Esquadro is no longer there, he ended up running away from his house because the community was furious with him.
According to the Muripa community, there were 28 farms, of which only 15 were chosen, but HMM would pay only 13 peasants in the amount of 15 thousand meticais per farm and the remaining people were left aside. The problem extends across all the communities mentioned above and there is no solution in sight, as the HMM Management continues to use fraudulent means to deceive the communities.
In the midist of all problem, community activists from APAADEC accuse the company of harming the communities and the Mozambican Government of being behind the injustices suffered by the Moma communities.
“There must be an understanding with the communities so that peace and tranquility are not jeopardized in that region, where the communities are already fed up with the “unfulfilled promises of the mining company HMM”.
Still in Moma, the Chinese mining company continues to destroy primary dunes legally protected by law, as it did on September 29, 2023-Residents of the communities of Corropa and Mponha
“some residents confirmed that they are only leaving 12 meters into the sea, which the law does not allow”. This source of ours demands that the government take measures to avoid serious violations of the environment.”
And, “For example in Mpode, they bought a river with the leaders that they are using anyway”, noted our interlocutor. “Those Chinese are not worth it,” said another source, explaining that “they are destroying everything here. When we take the case to court they go there and pay the court and the case dies”, so “we are asking for help. We feel bad about these people.”
Another source noted that “often, in order to block community leaders, they offer them job vacancies, and when the leaders try to complain they threaten to expel the person they employed.”
Haiyu Mozambique Mining its right to contradiction, but it simply declined our calls and also the messages sent by us. From December 2023 until the moment before our publication – January 2024, the company answered not a single question, many questions sent via SMS, and much less answered phone calls
https://mznews.co.mz/en/inhambane- vai-ganhar-unidades-de-exploracao-de-areias-pesadas/
