"Thousands of so-called 'garimpeiros' are flocking to the gold-rich region along the Revue River and its tributaries in western Mozambique. These llegal gold miners hail not only from across Mozambique but also from neighboring countries such as Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Zambia. Driven by hope for a better life, they pay little attention to environmental protections and related concerns, as they employ toxic chemicals such as mercury, cyanide, and arsenic to extract gold from rock and sediment."
"The Chicamba Dam, the region's most important source of drinking water, and the Revue River are particularly affected by this pollution. Francisca Tomas, Governor of Manica, calls for sustainable mining practices with regular inspectionsImage: DW Provincial government promises to take tougher action The provincial government of Manica which lies in central Mozambique and borders Zimbabwe has announced plans to stop informal mining and crack down harder on the garimpeiros; even licensed mining operations will be subject to stricter oversight in response to the growing crisis."
"International companies like Xtract Resources plc and Horizonte Minerals plc, both headquartered in the UK, claim to fully comply with environmental standards. Having held gold mining concessions in Manica for years, they also stress that they pay taxes locally unlike the informal miners. Still, these companies are also set to undergo a review. At a press briefing in early September, Manica governor Francisca Tomas emphasized that environmetal protection was her main concern:"
Thousands of informal "garimpeiros" from Mozambique and neighboring countries are converging on gold-rich areas along the Revue River and tributaries. Miners use highly toxic chemicals including mercury, cyanide, and arsenic to extract gold, allowing poisons to seep into soil and water with severe ecological and human-health consequences. The Chicamba Dam and the Revue River face significant pollution, threatening drinking-water supplies and agriculture. The provincial government of Manica plans to halt informal mining and impose stricter oversight on licensed operations. International companies assert regulatory compliance and local tax payments, but those companies will undergo review amid rising concerns.
Read at www.dw.com
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