Mozambique: Rubies of Death

3 April 2014

Every week, at least three miners are killed in the mines of Namanhumbir, district of Montepuez in Cabo Delgado. Despite that, moved by the idea of a sumptuous life, almost every day, dozens of individuals continue to face the private security force of Montepuez Ruby Mining, the company that operates rubies in that region of the country. In addition to survive to bullets and the burial, young people who engage in illegal mining have to cope with extortion led by Mozambican Police in the region. The gems are sold a thousand meticais gram to foreign citizens (and nationals) that surround the site in their luxury cars, valued at over a million meticais.

On the afternoon of March 12, Helena, of 21 years old, was am inconsolable woman. The tears that precipitated the eyes showed not only her pain on the sudden death of her husband, but also the void about her future and of her two children. The young woman didn't make it to the news that the man with whom she had joined seven years ago had lost his life in search of sustenance for the family. Desolate and looking at the body wrapped in a white cloth, minutes before the funeral, she questioned: "what will happen to me and to my children?"

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