Daniel Chapo stated that with the entry into force of the new law, the creation of a new state mining company, the approval of a new mining regulation, and the restoration of a highly organized registry, they will be able to reorganize the mining sector in the coming days, including the 'six machines' mine in Manica, Tete, and other regions of the country.
The head of state made these statements during a press conference following his three-day working trip to the Inhambane province, located in southern Mozambique, which was conducted as part of the close governance strategy.
According to Daniel Chapo, the new regulation is designed to strengthen control and supervision mechanisms over mining activities, contributing to the reduction of incidents caused by illegal mineral resource extraction, including in other provinces such as Manica, in the central part of the country.
The president mentioned the case of the 'six machines' mine in the Vanduzi district, Manica province, where at least nine people died in three days due to ground collapses in illegal mining areas.
The administrator of Vanduzi, Armindo Canhenze, reported that six people died in a collapse in this illegal exploitation zone on Thursday night, after two more deaths were registered on Wednesday, and one person on Tuesday in similar incidents in the same province.
According to the administrator, the demand for gold led to the gradual expansion of the excavated area, which reached a depth of about 20 meters and a diameter of 25 meters. Excavation began from a depth of about half a meter after gold was discovered on site, which subsequently attracted more and more prospectors.
Armindo Canhenze warned that the accumulation of hundreds or thousands of people, especially during the rainy season, weakens the ground and increases the risk of burial.
Accidents are occurring at a time when Mozambican authorities are showing growing concern over illegal and uncontrolled mineral extraction in Manica due to risks to local communities, environmental impact, and illegal exploitation of natural resources.
In July, the Attorney General's Office of the Republic (PGR) warned about the presence of minors in illegal mining activities in the province, having discovered about 900 excavation sites where various people, including children under 15, were working.
In June, the Mining Chamber of Mozambique advocated for closer coordination between state and private structures to curb uncontrolled mining in the province, where new critical minerals were discovered.
In 2025, the Government suspended licenses of mining companies due to environmental violations, including the absence of soil restoration and waste containment plans, following a report by the Defence and Security Force indicating a situation of 'uncontrolled mining' in Manica.
Nevertheless, according to information published by the Government in August, 30 out of 41 suspended mining companies in the province have resumed their operations after meeting environmental requirements and operating standards, while the rest remain under evaluation.
