19 June 2025
MRM Launches “Projecto Unidade” to Empower Communities
Montepuez Ruby Mining (MRM) announces a new project to strengthen local partnerships, create jobs, promote human rights, and deter illegal mining in Mozambique.
MRM has launched “Projecto Unidade” to deepen community collaboration and support local development.
The project was developed through extensive consultations with nine communities to ensure local priorities are at the centre of planning and implementation. After a successful pilot phase in 2024, in which members of the Nsewe community were trained and hired to carry out guard duties in return for both a wage and community fund, the project is now being expanded.
At its heart, “Projecto Unidade” aims to create more stable and safer jobs for residents of local communities, with direct benefits for their collective well-being. In doing so, the company is able to demonstrate the negative impact of illegal mining, offering a viable alternative and promoting human rights.
Zefanias Mawawa, MRM’s Head of Corporate Responsibility, said: “The ‘Projecto Unidade’ is not limited to job creation and community development. It is also a platform to raise awareness about the detrimental effects of illegal mining and promote human rights protection, in alignment with the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights.”
Under the project, each village defines its own development agenda, implemented by Community Development Management Committees with local government and MRM funding. In June 2025, 20 young people from Namanhumbir, Nanhupo A, and Nanhupo B were hired by the company’s security contractor, with salaries supporting pooled community investment. The initiative underscores MRM’s commitment to responsible mining, local empowerment, and its role as a strategic development partner in Mozambique.