A parliamentary commission of inquiry was set up by the Assembly of the Republic to investigate allegations of the use of hazardous chemicals in mining, industrial, and artisanal operations in Manica province, in the central region of the country.
According to Resolution No. 90/2025, approved by Parliament, there are consistent reports that mining activity, including artisanal gold mining, has intensified in the districts of Manica, Sussundenga, Báruè, Macossa, and Gôndola, with the use of highly toxic products such as mercury and cyanide.
The resolution recognizes that mining is an important economic activity for the country’s development, but stresses that it must comply with the principles of environmental protection, public health, and sustainable use of natural resources.
The complaints led the government to decree, in September 2025, the total suspension of mining activities in the province. The decision was based on a report by the operational command of the Defense and Security Forces, which found the existence of uncontrolled mining, operated by licensed companies without environmental recovery plans or waste containment systems.
The parliamentary commission’s mandate covers the effects of the use of these substances on water resource contamination and public health. The focus is particularly on districts whose watercourses feed the Chicamba reservoir, one of the main sources of drinking water for the cities of Chimoio, Manica, and Gondola, as well as for the villages of Messica, Bandula, and other communities.
According to the parliamentary document, the indiscriminate use of mercury and cyanide has caused the pollution of several watercourses, with severe impacts on agriculture, livestock, aquatic fauna, and the provision of essential services such as healthcare and the functioning of schools. The situation poses a direct threat to the health of thousands of families, increasing their vulnerability to disease outbreaks.
The final report of the commission of inquiry is due to be submitted to the Standing Committee of the Assembly of the Republic by February 2026. The commission is composed of nine members of parliament, representing the various parliamentary groups.
Information released on January 20 indicates that, following the suspension of licenses, turbidity levels in the Chicamba reservoir have decreased by more than 50%. “We had a decrease in turbidity levels of around 100 NTU and reached 50%, which reveals significant changes in the color of the water,” said Salvador Mamela, director of the Buzi basin division.
In December, the government ruled that mining companies have 90 days to stabilize the mined land and restore the flow of affected rivers. According to the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Estêvão Pale, measures are being taken to halt the environmental degradation caused by mining activity in the country.
