Chinese "assault fields" and wildly exploit gold without honouring commitments with farmers
According to the communities, the mining company, which is owned by the Chinese, is wildly mining gold in that village and with the aim of grabbing land that locals used for agricultural fields and cattle pasture.
The Chinese mining company Horizonte Minerals is accused of contract violations signed with locals on the concession of areas for gold mining in the Tchimedza region, in the district of Manica in the central province of Manica-Mozambique
According to the communities, the mining company, which is owned by the Chinese, is wildly mining gold in that village and with the aim of grabbing land that locals used for agricultural fields and cattle pasture.
Also, Horizonte Minerals, according to the interview we had with community people they said that the mining company is the biggest polluter of rivers, because according to them the company uses water retention basins to polish the gold and in the dead of night the basin with already dark water is opened, and the liquid with some residues and mercury is released into the water courses that are totally polluted in that part of the province. For example, the Revué river, which serves as a source of supply of water for the Chicamba dam, where the company Água da Região Centro do País (ADRC) captures for the distribution of the precious liquid to homes, is completely filled with dirty water.
During a conversation with Bento Guirande, "Integrity" found that Horizonte Minerals has concluded simple contracts with the population. "The Chinese came and said that they wanted to explore for gold in my machamba, which at the time had 2.8 hectares and in the negotiation they imposed a price of 150 thousand meticais as compensation, however, they would go after removing, restoring the soil so that I could continue with my activities, I agreed but I was surprised soon after with the abandonment of the place by the Chinese, the soils were not replaced and the Chinese security guards do not let me set foot in the place that was only for them to extract the gold in that period, as well as, they did not let continue with my activities", explained Guirande.
À "Integrity" went to one of the camps of the mining company Horizonte Minerals and did not find the managers.
However, in a phone call conversation to get comments from the company on the allegations posed against them one of the employees of Horizonte Minerals, simply identified by Jorge, replied with arrogance.
I know nothing about what you're are talking. You can't come to settle land conflicts here either, what you had to do was look for us and we'd sit down to overcome the situation, since Senhor Bento is from the RENAMO party, so you came to Tchimedza, on the behalf of RENAMO, if you want to publish the matter you can, but the consequences could fall on you", he threatened the reporter and ended the call. (Pedro Tawanda, in Manica)
