Maputo, 19 Jun (AIM) – The delayed compensation and resettlement of 60 households by the company Mutamba Mineral Sands is undermining the beginning of the exploitation of heavy mineral sands in Jangamo District, in the southern Mozambican province of Inhambane.
According to the Maputo daily “Notícias”, the households should have already been resettled and mining of the sands should have started earlier this year.
“The government of Jangamo District is imposing the compensation of households as a condition for mining. The 60 households must be compensated first”, said José Jeremias, Jangamo district administrator.
Jeremias also said that there is an agreement with the company, which determines the employment of 100 young local people in the project.
“When it comes to population, we hope that the company can work carefully, talking to people for their resettlement. Afterwards, they can occupy the 262 hectare space. We have carried out two community consultations, but two more are underway”, he said, adding that the government has approved the environmental study.
The district administrator explained that the land where the households must be resettled has already been identified and this space is being divided into plots.
“Currently, we are discussing the type of houses to be built to resettle the households. Furthermore, we have cultural issues that must be observed”, he said.
The Mutamba Mineral Sands has confirmed the existence of 4.4 million tonnes of titanium minerals in the Jangamo sands.
(AIM)
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