19 September 2025
Cabo Delgado’s Secretary of State pledges firm action against illegal mining in Montepuez
On 19 September 2025, the Secretary of State of Cabo Delgado, Fernando Bemane de Sousa, conducted his first visit to MRM accompanied by members of the Provincial Executive Council and the Montepuez District Government.
The purpose of the visit was for the Secretary of State to gain a better understanding of MRM’s operations and its challenges.
The team at MRM presented the mine’s key activities, including corporate responsibility projects which benefit local communities. The presentation also outlined the assorted challenges faced by the operation, with particular emphasis on the impact of illegal mining, which the Secretary of State witnessed first-hand whilst on his visit.
The key points discussed were the extent to which the ruby smuggling syndicates are destroying the social fabric of villages in Montepuez, as well as negatively impacting MRM’s revenues and therefore taxes paid to the government, as the supply of cheaper, smuggled gemstones are reaching the international market.
“We will coordinate efforts and take firm action to address this issue, targeting those who finance these activities, particularly foreigners residing illegally in Montepuez and surrounding villages,” stated Fernando de Sousa.
In Gemfields’ mixed-quality ruby auction results announcement on 6 October, the company also noted that illegal miners had sabotaged its second processing plant supply infrastructure, thereby further delaying the final commissioning of the plant.