New regulation will reorganize mining sector in Mozambique, says Chapo

“Twe are absolutely certain that, with the entry into force of the new law, the new public mining company, the approval of the new regulation of mines and the reopening of an extremely organized register, we will manage, in the coming days, to reorganize the mine sector, including the mine of ‘six cars’, [in Manica], in Tete and other areas of the country”, said Daniel Chapo.

The Head of State spoke at a press conference on the balance of his three-day work visit to Inhambane Province in southern Mozambique, held within the framework of the proximity governance strategy.

According to Daniel Chapo, the new regulation should strengthen the monitoring and control mechanisms for mining, contributing to reducing incidents caused by illegal exploitation of mineral resources also in other provinces, including Manica, in the center of the country.

The President alluded to the “six cars” mine in the district of Vanduzi, Manica province, where at least nine people died in three days due to landslides in illegal mining zones.

On Friday, the administrator of Vanduzi, Armindo Canhenze, said that six people died early on Thursday in a collapse in that area of illegal exploitation, after two other fatalities registered on Wednesday and one on Tuesday, in similar incidents in the same province.

According to the administrator, the demand for gold caused the progressive expansion of the excavated area, which reached about 20 meters deep and 25 meters in diameter.

The excavation began about a foot deep, after the discovery of gold on site, attracting successively more prospectors. Armindo Canhenze warned that the concentration of hundreds or thousands of people, especially during the rainy season, weakens the terrain and increases the risk of burial.

Accidents occur at a time when the Mozambican authorities have expressed growing concern about illegal and uncontrolled mining in Manica due to the risks to communities, environmental impacts and illicit exploitation of mineral resources.

In July, the Attorney General’s Office (PGR) warned of the presence of minors in illegal mining activities in the province, after identifying about 900 excavation sites where several people worked, including children under the age of 15.

Also in June, the Chamber of Mines of Mozambique defended greater coordination between public and private entities to stop uncontrolled mining, in a province that has registered the discovery of new minerals considered critical.

In 2025, the government suspended licenses from mining companies due to environmental irregularities, including the absence of land recovery plans and waste containment systems, after a report by the Defence and Security Forces pointing to a situation of “uncontrolled mining” in Manica.

However, according to information released by the government in August, 30 of the 41 mining companies suspended in the province have already resumed the activity, after meeting environmental requirements and operating standards, remaining under evaluation.