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Civil Society Launches Program to Prevent Conflicts in Mining Zones

Civil Society Launches Program to Prevent Conflicts in Mining Zones

In Maputo, civil society has launched a program for the prevention of conflicts in exploration zones. Non-governmental organizations intend to contribute to a more inclusive management of natural resources.

Mozambican civil society advocates for transparency, inclusive policies and reduction of vulnerability of communities to prevent conflicts in areas of exploration of minerals and other natural resources.

For this reason the project “For an Inclusive and Peaceful Society in Mozambique” was launched this Wednesday (19.05), with which social organizations intend to contribute to crisis response and peace building through inclusive governance and management of resources.

The executive director of the Institute for Multiparty Democracy (IMD), Hermenegildo Mundlhovo, recognizes that one of the vulnerability factors of the communities is the extractive industry. “For example, we have a set of expectations from the youth for the benefit of these sectors that are not seen and that also facilitates the level of spread of conflict.”

“And that’s where insurgents have had their easy time in terms of recruiting young people who are frustrated precisely because they are not feeling that they are properly included from the process of exploiting natural resources,” explains the IDM director.

Development vs. conflicts

The representative of the European Union, Piergogio Calistri, says that the discovery of natural resources has not yet led the country to the development that was expected, not only in Cabo Delgado, but in other regions of the country.

“Therefore, the European Union, together with the Governments, including that of Mozambique, supports various international conventions such as, for example, the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative.”

However, according to Calistri, “without strong local collaboration between communities, institutions and the private sector,” it is not possible to “prevent the birth of disputes that easily turn into wider conflicts.”

Government says focus on sustainability

Meanwhile, the Government, says the national director of the Environment, Guilhermina Amorane, has been developing policies and strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources and taking measures to ensure sustainable development.

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But despite this effort to promote the sustainable development of natural resources, there have been conflicts linked to exploitation. “This fact is recognized by the government, which has led to the definition of its five-year plan 2020 and 2024 in one of its governance priorities by strengthening the sustainable management of natural resources and the environment,” Amorane assures.

The Project “For an Inclusive and Peaceful Society in Mozambique” will last three years, starting already this year, and is launched by a consortium of partners such as IMD, Institute of Social and Economic Studies (IESE) and Finn Church Aid.

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