A Chinese-owned mining company, HS Mining, has reportedly closed a road providing access to the Mavonde administrative post area, in Manica district, Manica province, allegedly to carry out gold exploration and mining activities. The measure, which has been in force for about a week, has caused outrage among road users, who fear being isolated and are facing difficulties with the movement of people, vehicles and goods.

The road in question is the main access route to Mavonde, a region considered important for agricultural production in Manica district. With traffic interrupted, farmers and other road users are facing difficulties travelling and transporting produce and other goods.

Elias Djokonia has expressed concern about the situation, questioning how a mining operation was allowed to interfere with a public road.

“We are truly astonished. We are amazed by the Chinese company that closes the road, claiming that it wants to extract gold. And it puts the road out of use, and the alternative route will not be passable when it rains,” he said.

For his part, Tendai Hanguire, who has used the road for more than 30 years, said he was surprised by the interruption of traffic to make way for gold exploration and mining activities.

This is sad because they have closed the road we have been using since 1992. I have always driven here. This alternative route is in poor condition. When I left Mavonde for the city [of Manica], I saw that a different road had been opened,” he said.

An alternative route has been designated to allow people and vehicles to continue travelling to and from Mavonde. However, residents say the route is unsafe and warn that it could lead to road accidents

Road users are calling for government authorities to intervene, clarify the situation and find solutions to ensure that traffic can continue without compromising mining activities or harming local communities.

O País tried unsuccessfully to obtain HS Mining’s version of events. The company’s representatives declined to comment.

By Carlitos Cadangue

Source: O País