The Manica provincial police commander, Armando Canheza, has said the recently established Natural Resources Protection Police of Mozambique has seized 124 pumps that were being used for illegal mining in the province.Local media reported on Tuesday that the police are seeking to combat gold mining techniques which lead to pollution of rivers in Manica for which most of the illegal miners are said to be Zimbabwean citizens.
Reports quoted Canheza as saying said that community leaders in this region support the police intervention and urged Manica communities to continue collaborating with the authorities in denouncing citizens involved in illegal mining, particularly under cover of night.
The administrator of Manica district, Carlos Malia, recognized the efforts that community authorities have made in tackling illegal mining, and believed that this is now being reflected in reduced pollution of the rivers.
Serious concerns have been raised that the use of toxic substances such as mercury by the miners is poisoning the rivers on which many people depend for their drinking water.
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