
Maputo, 21 Nov (AIM) – The Montepuez Ruby Mining company (MRM), which operates in the Namanhumbir administrative post, Montepuez district, in the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado, claims that its Maningue Nice mine suffered a large-scale invasion of around 150 illegal miners on 15 November.
According to an MRM statement, cited in Thursday’s issue of the independent newsheet “Carta de Moçambique”, during the invasion a police officer and a private security guard were taken hostages. When the security backup arrived, the two hostages were released unharmed.
MRM security teams identified Airos Samuel Tolecha (also known as Boica) as the leader of the invaders.
“Tolecha has been accused on previous occasions at the Namanhumbir police station of other incursions into the MRM concession. On 6 September 2024, he was arrested and taken to Namanhumbir police station. He escaped from prison shortly afterwards”, reads the note.
According to the statement, each participant received 200 meticais (about three dollars at the current exchange rate) to join the raid. They were promised a further 500 meticais if they returned with ‘layer’ bags containing gravel with rubies.
“The raid was financed by an individual named Zacare Idrisse who is believed to be of Nigerian or Guinean nationality. In total, 44 foreign nationals were arrested in connection with illegal mining in the MRM in 2024”, the note says.
The document points out that the authorities at district, provincial and national level have been notified of the incident, “in the hope that more pro-active measures will be taken against those who finance, facilitate and encourage the illegal trade in Mozambican rubies, which harms Mozambique and its people through loss of life and the deprivation of much-needed tax revenue from Mozambique’s mineral resources.”
The MRM claims that it is carrying out communication activities to warn of the dangers of illegal mining, raising awareness in neighbouring communities, where illegal miners often take temporary shelter.
(AIM)
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