A parliamentary commission of inquiry has found that the use of hazardous chemicals in mining in Manica province, central Mozambique, remains “challenging and difficult,” promising to continue investigating the allegations raised to establish the facts.

“The main concern is the reference to the existence of chemicals in mining that are harmful to public health and the environment. We definitely found that the situation is challenging and difficult; there are signs of improvement, but it still requires much attention and careful monitoring on our part,” said Aires Ali, chairman of the parliamentary commission of inquiry of the Assembly of the Republic, cited by the media on Sunday.

On 30 January, the creation of a parliamentary commission of inquiry was announced by Mozambique’s Assembly of the Republic to “investigate” the veracity of local allegations regarding the use of “dangerous chemical substances in mining operations” in Manica.

“In recent years, it has been reported that Manica province, particularly the districts of Manica, Sussundenga, Báruè, Macossa, and Gôndola, has seen intensified industrial mining and artisanal gold panning, with widespread use of highly toxic substances such as mercury and cyanide,” the parliamentary resolution stated.

Speaking to journalists, the commission chairman promised to continue consultations to verify the facts concerning the allegations.

“The consultations will continue at the central level because many institutions are involved in this process, some of which are already deeply engaged in this matter. We will share what we can observe and ascertain, and from there the commission will have enough information to produce a final report,” Aires Ali said.

These allegations had already led the Mozambican government, in September, to fully suspend mining activities in the province.

“The purpose of the parliamentary commission of inquiry is to investigate facts related to the use of dangerous chemical substances in industrial and artisanal mining activities, and their effects on water pollution and public health,” reads the resolution.

It also states that the commission’s scope “is limited to Manica province,” especially “the districts whose watercourses feed into the Chicamba reservoir, but can be extended to other geographical areas or related matters whenever necessary to fulfil its mandate.”

The decree further points out that the “indiscriminate use” of these substances, according to local reports, “has caused pollution of several watercourses,” including rivers that flow into the Chicamba reservoir, “one of the main sources of drinking water for the cities of Chimoio, Manica, Gondola, as well as for the villages of Messica, Bandula and other surrounding communities.”

The inquiry commission, made up of nine deputies from various parliamentary benches, was expected to submit a final report to the Standing Committee of the Assembly of the Republic by February.

Turbidity levels in the Chicamba reservoir fell by more than 50% after the suspension of mining licences by the government in 2025, according to information released on 20 January.

The suspension of mining licences in Manica – which is progressively being lifted – came after the Mozambican executive reviewed a report by the operational command of the Defence and Security Forces (FDS), which found on the ground “uncontrolled mining” by licensed operators, with companies operating without environmental recovery plans and waste containment systems.

In December, the Mozambican government announced that mining companies had 90 days to restore and stabilise soils, as well as to rehabilitate the flow of rivers affected by mining.