The suspension of work at the Chongoene Port Terminal in Gaza province is putting around 200 jobs at risk and jeopardizing the export of more than 270,000 tons of minerals from the Chibuto heavy sands project.

According to the district administrator of Chongoene, Artur Macamo, quoted by the newspaper "The Country", workers have no guarantees about the future of their jobs.

Macamo also explained that despite the suspension, the workers received their full salaries last month, but the company is now negotiating the payment of only 50% of their salaries.

The standoff began on January 10, when members of the Nhampfunwine community stormed the premises of the Dingsheng company and completely halted construction work on the port.

The protesters allege that the Chinese company has failed to comply with commitments made in a bilateral agreement, which provided for the supply of drinking water, electricity and a health center for the population from 2023. The protest resulted in the expulsion of the company's managers and the blocking of traffic in the project area, preventing work from continuing.

To resolve the conflict, the local government met with the population and established a new agreement, which provides for the electrification of 50% of the affected area. According to Macamo, work is already underway in three neighborhoods and should begin soon in the fourth. With regard to the population's other demands, such as the construction of a health center and the supply of drinking water, the work should start in March this year.

Despite these measures, there is still no definite date for the resumption of work on the port, since the continuity of the project depends on the population's acceptance of the promises made. Macamo said that, at the moment, it is difficult to make a forecast, as the resumption of work is conditional on fulfilling the commitments made to guarantee basic services to the community. What is certain, according to him, is that the port terminal will not be completed this year, despite the fact that more than 90% of the work has already been carried out.

While negotiations continue, the suspension of the port terminal prevents the export of more than 270,000 tons of heavy sands extracted from the Chibuto mining project.

(Photo DR)