Clean water and an advocacy win in Manica province

But in recent years, these life-giving waters have been transformed into a toxic, reddish-brown slurry as mining practices have introduced poisonous mercury into the ecosystem.

Mercury is used to extract gold, and for some time, mining companies have been dumping it, along with arsenic, directly into the rivers without treating it first to make the water safe.

The consequences have been devastating. Farmers have watched their crops wither in sediment-choked soil, more than 500 fishermen have been forced to abandon their trade as fish populations plummeted, and families who relied on the water for drinking have reported health issues like stomach pains, vomiting and diarrhoea.

In some rivers, mercury levels soared to a staggering 16 times the legal limit. And the local communities were the ones paying the price.

This is where the Safeguard the Planet movement drew a line in the sand.

Safeguarding the planet

Safeguard the Planet is a Tearfund-supported initiative, working alongside people from the affected community and civil society researchers, and they refused to allow this ecological and human rights disaster go unchecked.

After gathering undeniable evidence of the damage to people, wildlife, crops, livelihoods and the environment as a whole, as well as of the grave public health risks, Safeguard the Planet challenged the government to put the lives and livelihoods of local community members above the profits of big mining companies, and demanded an end to the river pollution.

A golden victory for environmental justice

In a monumental victory for environmental justice, on 30 September 2025, the Council of Ministers of the Mozambican government enacted Decree No. 32/2025, ordering the immediate suspension of all gold mining activities in Manica province.

This policy win is a landmark achievement. It represents a significant and vital move toward accountability and ecological survival.

The mining suspension was put in place to stop the worsening damage to the environment, to take time to reconsider the licensing conditions for mining, and to force companies to comply with crucial environmental and safety standards which protect people and the surrounding ecosystem.

By stopping the daily dumping of toxic waste, the decree has given the region's dams, lakes and rivers and the life they support a desperately needed chance to breathe.

While studies suggest it may take two to five years for the water ecosystems to fully heal, the positive impacts of the movement's work are already becoming visible, with the waters of the Chicamba Dam slowly showing a return to normal.

The power of community-led advocacy

And this historic policy win is a powerful testament to what community-led advocacy can achieve. The movement has proven that when people unite to protect their water, their health and their land, they have the power to change the law, halt the destruction, and secure a healthier, more abundant future for generations to come.

But the fight for Manica's environment is far from over, and the Safeguard the Planet movement is already working to address other situations where mining is destroying the local environment, such as the heavily degraded Mina dos 6 Carros in Vanduzi.