Experts have no doubts that Cabo Delgado is the stage for the "natural resources curse. They explain that the extractive industry sector fosters injustices and human rights violations.

Mozambican analysts and academics gathered on Thursday (15.07) in Maputo, the country's capital, say that Cabo Delgado province, stage of the extractive industry, is becoming a "minefield". They consider that the region is being the "mirror image of the natural resources curse" in Mozambique.

The northern province, the zone of terrorist attacks, is rich in various natural resources, such as gas, oil, marble, gold, rubies among others, which have mobilized large companies, but also the armed insurgency.

As a consequence there are human rights violations, murders, kidnappings, arbitrary detentions, and disappearances of journalists and citizens.

Journalist and analyst Lázaro Mabunda holds the Mozambican forces of order responsible for attacks against journalists for allegedly spreading false news. "Who should punish journalists in a democratic regime is not the military. It is the courts, it cannot be a military. The military can only act in authoritarian regimes," he said.

The academic Severino Ngoenha criticizes the social injustices that have been installed not only in Cabo Delgado, but in all regions where natural resources are being exploited. Ngoenha cites cases such as the heavy sands project in Moma, the Prosavana project, and the ruby extraction project in Montepuez, where due to the exploitation of natural resources, the population has been left to its fate.

Extractive exploitation generates poverty in the population

"We were not democratic enough to say that this type of procedure cannot continue," argues the academic, who stresses that Mozambique is lucky to have riches, but unlucky to have inattentive politicians and policies, incapable of transforming these riches into benefits for the population.

Ngoenha says that it is necessary to put an end to the suffering and the loss of dignity of the population and blames the authorities, who should work to protect the social fabric.

The researcher of the Center for Public Integrity (CIP), Inocência Mapisse, says that the suspension of activities of Total and Montepuez Rubi Mining and other chain companies will have an impact on the State Budget.

According to Inocencia Mapisse, the fiscal contribution of the megaprojects in the State Budget represents an average of 6%. "That means that if the activities remain suspended, about 6% that is currently derived from the megaprojects will not go to the State Budget."

These observations were made at a round table discussion on "Extractive industry, insurgency in Cabo Delgado and its consequences for Mozambique", which on Thursday (15.07) brought together extractive industry experts and academics.