Mining giants in Mozambique accused of mismanaging the resettlement of residents

Mining giants in Mozambique’s north-western province of Tete are being accused of mismanaging the resettlement of residents who are being forced to relocate to make way for new mining areas. The Brazilian mining conglomerate Vale has been accused of resettling communities in inadequate areas with poorly constructed homes, while Indian steel company Jindal is still in the process of moving communities from its mining area. In their current location, residents in the village of Kassoka in Changara District, a few miles from Jindal’s new mining area, are able to pan for gold to supplement their farming income. However, since Jindal’s move into the area in 2008, the people of Kassoka have not been able to open up new fields for farming or build new houses. Some families have already lost fields to the mine, and although they were compensated according to the size of their fields, the compensation amount did not take into account the presence of gold in the area. Similarly, Vale resettled around 5,000 people between 2006 and 2011, although the process was marred by conflict. Members of the resettled community complained that their new village lacked transportation and jobs, that the soil was poor and that their houses were badly constructed.

Original Article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201303210987.html