TIPS Project | Stories of Change
Changing the Paradigm of Resettlement in Jangamo
Jangamo district is located 29 kilometers away from the provincial capital of Inhambane province, and it is soon to be impacted by the mining of heavy sands by Mozambican-owned company, Mutamba Minerals Sand.
Helena Adriano, leader and president of the District Civil Society Platform, together with the Resettlement Committee – groups which are comprised of members of the affected communities – are joining forces to ensure that the mining company fulfils the promises made during public consultation sessions. Key promises include construction of livable housing, compensation, the creation of water supply infrastructures and the electricity systems for the community.
The mining of heavy sands will affect seven communities including the district headquarters. Negotiations are underway to ensure the resettlement of the 49 families from the Jangamo community to the Nhalikokuana community, where the families will establish their farming fields in the Mandonga community.
Adriano explains that the project engagements and share of experiences organised by the ‘Towards Peaceful and Inclusive Societies’ (TIPS) project have stimulated observation, mediation, and involvement in conflict management resulting from the mining of natural resources. The TIPS project has given communities the knowledge of natural resource management, conflict analysis and prevention, negotiation, mediation and dialogue. The project has conducted training programs to mitigate conflicts arising from the exploration and mining of natural resources.
These skills have encouraged the Jangamo communities to meet with the company to review the compensation chart for the list of entitlements to be provided to them as a result of the proposed mining and resulting displacement. As of late 2023, negotiations were in the third phase regarding the compensation and the model of the houses to be built for them after the previous proposals were rejected. Before going ahead with construction, the community is demanding a house prototype to evaluate, and the company has agreed to build it in the district centre. “We demand that the primary school be rebuilt with conventional materials. We are also negotiating the construction of a police station, recreational space, and a piped water supply system.”
Helena Adriano, leader and president of the District Civil Society Platform.
These skills have encouraged the Jangamo communities to meet with the company to review the compensation chart for the list of entitlements to be provided to them as a result of the proposed mining and resulting displacement. As of late 2023, negotiations were in the third phase regarding the compensation and the model of the houses to be built for them after the previous proposals were rejected. Before going ahead with construction, the community is demanding a house prototype to evaluate, and the company has agreed to build it in the district centre.
“We demand that the primary school be rebuilt with conventional materials. We are also negotiating the construction of a police station, recreational space, and a piped water supply system.”
Helena proudly stated that the trainings and activities under the project have prepared the communities of Madonga and Jangamo districts to manage conflicts arising from the exploration of mineral resources, especially during resettlement phases.
The trainings have played a crucial role in improving technical knowledge, in-depth understanding of legislation, and in developing lobbying and advocacy skills. These elements, in turn, have culminated in more effective conflict management, both at the individual and community levels, as exemplified by the Technical Resettlement Commission leading meetings with the mining company without the presence of the Civil Society Platform. Additionally, the communities have also been able to lobby for additional benefits such as food parcels. Helena believes that any future conflicts in the community will be resolved through peaceful means as a result of the skills, knowledge, and experience that they have received.
About the TIPS Project
‘Towards an Inclusive and Peaceful Society in Mozambique‘ (TIPS) is a European Union-funded project implemented between January 2021 to December 2023, which seeks to contribute to conflict prevention, crisis preparedness and response, and peacebuilding through an inclusive nautral resources governance and management in Mozambique. The project is implemented by a consortium of actors comprised of Finn Church Aid and the Peacemakers Network, Institute of Social and Economic Studies (Instituto de Estudos Sociais e Económicos-IESE) and the Institute for Multiparty Democracy (Instituto para a Democracia Multipartidaria) in collaboration with the Council of Religions in Mozambique (Conselho das Religiões em Moçambique – COREM).
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