Mozambique’s central province of Manica is facing a critical environmental disaster, prompting the nation’s parliament to demand the immediate cessation of all illegal mining. This drastic measure follows the discovery of extensive mercury contamination across drinking water supplies used by local populations, according to a media report.

The findings were recently presented to the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry, which began its work in December 2025. The commission was established after Mozambique’s mineral resources inspectorate confirmed that mining activities were causing contamination in the Revue river and the Chicamba reservoir. 

Laboratory analysis of the polluted waterways revealed the presence of lead, cadmium, and arsenic, alongside mercury, which is a chemical frequently used in gold processing.

Compounding the issue, even authorised companies are failing to meet fundamental environmental safeguards. These businesses reportedly operate without necessary waste containment protocols or restoration schemes, abandon equipment on site, and violate labour legislation. 

A 2022 study by researchers at Mozambique’s Púnguè University previously established that the continuous burning of mercury in Manica had already led to elevated mercury concentrations in the soil. The resultant mining pollution affects local rivers, including the Revue, a vital water source feeding directly into the Chicamba reservoir and the region’s water treatment facility.

[See more: Mozambique records most disaster-related displacements in Sub-Saharan Africa]

The human cost is significant: in Manica district, which contains 338 small-scale mining locations, it is estimated that more than 10,000 individuals are exposed to mercury through gold refining and mining. Health repercussions from this exposure include memory loss, neurological damage, shifts in personality, and birth defects.

The crisis surrounding mineral extraction in Mozambique is a long-running concern. The Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy estimates annual losses of US$50 million due to the illegal trade of gold and precious stones. Smuggling presents a severe challenge, especially in the central and northern areas, exacerbated by a porous border with Tanzania.

The UNODC has previously issued warnings that profits from illicit mining contribute to money laundering and terrorism financing operations, particularly in the conflict-ridden northern region.

In response, the CPI has put forward several key recommendations. These include calling for frequent independent quality audits of water, increasing military and security presence in mining areas, strengthening controls over the cross-border trafficking of hazardous chemicals and explosives, and implementing biometric registration for artisanal miners.