Out of the six rivers polluted by illegal gold mining in the Manica province, Central Mozambique, four, namely the Chimeza, Lucite, Nhancuarara, and Zambuzi rivers have been treated.  

Treatment of the Pungoe and the Revue, the two remaining rivers, is ongoing. For many months these rivers have been polluted by mercury and sodium borate which are used to purify gold mined at Mavonde, a rich mining region known for the practice of illegal mining.

The deadline set by government for the completion of these works was December 2015. The main reason for the delay in their completion is miners’ resilience to police operations aiming to put an end to illegal gold mining in the Mavonde region.

Meanwhile, authorities are busily working towards preventing water pollution from posing a threat to human and animal health; the Revue River goes into the Chicamba dam from which the Manica province gets its water and energy.

Stéphanie C. Tohon