Zitamar Daily: Conflict minerals

Graphite mine strike leaders fired; IS claims ruby mine attack

In today’s Daily Briefing:

• Islamic State issues belated claim for ruby mine attack

• More from the troublesome district of Balama

• Signs of progress on public sector pay dispute…

• …and on dispute paralysing Nacala Port

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Good afternoon. The Islamic State terror group has broken its recent silence on Mozambique to claim that its fighters were responsible for the attack last month on Gemrock’s ruby mine. The group’s weekly newspaper says Gemrock was “stealing the wealth of Muslims”, and boasted of causing economic damage to the Indian-owned company.

That project apparently remains suspended, though the neighbouring Gemfields-owned Montepuez Ruby Mining (MRM) project is back up and running. MRM makes great play of its community initiatives and understandably bristles at any suggestion that the wealth it produces for its shareholders — including members of the Mozambican elite — has anything to do with stoking the violence in Cabo Delgado. Nevertheless, it is generally accepted that wealth generation in the province has been highly unequal — and that this inequality does feed dissatisfaction which probably in turn feeds the insurgency.

Many observers have pointed to the coincidence of a major government crackdown on artisanal ruby miners in 2017, and the start of the violent insurgency in the province a few months later. And there are signs that more dissatisfaction is being bred further inland along the rich mineral seam running through Montepuez. At Syrah Resources’ graphite mine in Balama, local workers downed tools for a number of weeks, claiming they were discriminated against and underpaid compared to workers brought in from elsewhere in Mozambique.

Whoever was in the right, it was clearly a situation that needed handling with care. Instead, the leaders of the strike have been fired, ejected from the site, and are now seemingly being investigated by the police. Opposition party Renamo has apparently already started staking out the district ahead of a scheduled local election there next year. But the local authorities, who have a reputation for stamping on dissent, need to ensure inclusion and equity, or risk creating a pressure cooker which could erupt in unpredictable ways.

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Agenda:

• Today: The Mozambican Judges Association to hold an extraordinary general assembly to challenge the law approving the new TSU public sector salary scale

• Today: The African Union Peace and Security Council convenes a ministerial session on the situation in Mozambique and operations of the Southern African Development Community Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) (see here)

• Today-tomorrow: President Nyusi attends COP27 climate summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt

• Today-Wednesday: Mozambican members of parliament visit Tanzania’s parliament to swap institutional experiences and around the transparent management of extractive industry revenues

• Tomorrow: President Nyusi and Sir Tony Blair among panellists on webinar Mozambique in the Driving Seat of Southern Africa Energy Transition, to be broadcast live on Facebook from 15:45 CAT

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The latest from Zitamar News:

Syrah's Mozambique graphite mine fires 14 strike leaders
The authorities in Cabo Delgado appear to have learned few lessons about the importance of inclusive development and not alienating the local population

Islamic State breaks silence on Gemrock attack
Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack on a ruby mine on 20 October, saying the company had “stolen the wealth of Muslims” and boasting of causing “great economic losses to the owners in India”

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💥 Conflict updates:

• 5 November 2022: Pararene, Namuno district, Cabo Delgado

At least two people were killed and several buildings burned in an insurgent attack on Pararene, less than 20km from Namuno district headquarters.

• 7 November 2022: Mandava, Muidumbe district, Cabo Delgado

Insurgents attacked Mandava village in Muidumbe district on Monday morning. No further details have been reported so far. 

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Also in the news:

• Nacala paralysis continues despite injunction’s removal (Mediafax)

• Journalist denounces torture and inhuman conditions in Balama jail (DW)

• Doctors postpone strike after talks with government (Lusa, A Verdade)

• EU to support 10,000 more Mozambican farmers in cereal production (Lusa, The East African)

Today’s front pages in Maputo. Photo © Faizal Chauque / Zitamar News