31
Table 2 Distribution of mining concessions, by province, 1993
Province |
Area granted (ha) |
Maputo |
16,974 |
Gaza |
430,000 |
Inhambane |
1,175 |
Sofala |
233,000 |
Manica |
52,407 |
Sofala and Manica |
466,000 |
Zambezia |
124,051 |
Tete |
1,368,215 |
Niassa |
92,065 |
Cabo Delgado |
409,905 |
Multiple provincial concessions |
8,000,000 |
Total area |
11,193,792 |
Source: Reported by Ministry of Natural Resources, Maputo, 1993.
concessions. This possibility is supported by field observations and by unconfirmed
allegations of government officials in Maputo.
In addition to land concessions for agriculture, grazing, hunting reserves, and mineral
exploration, the central and provincial governments are granting concessions for tourism as
well as forestry and timber exploration. These concessions have been partially investigated
and unconfirmed cases have been reported. For example, one Zimbabwean claimed "buying"
5 miles of coastline to establish a tourist industry in Inhambane Province. There are numerous
instances of similar acquisitions along the coastline and on the Mozambican islands. In a
rather remarkable case it has been disclosed that the religious organization Heaven on Earth
received rights to 20 million hectares. 67 Several cases were mentioned with regard to
forestry, including one concession in Cabo Delgado Province for more than 1 million
hectares, and another concession in Manica Province in excess of 50,000 hectares.
Two additional types of land transfer are relevant to this discussion. Research conducted
on the state farm sector between 1991 and 1992 revealed that, by 1992, much of the land in
the sector had been "acquired" (legally or extralegally) by commercial interests and
67. See MediaFax, 24 January 1994; New York Times, 10 February 1994; Savana, 20 May 1994. These
concessions cover several blocks, which are scattered throughout the country. It has been revealed that the
Government of Mozambique and Heaven on Earth have signed a document granting 20 million hectares to the
enterprise. This certificate was signed by the Minister of Finance, Sr. Comiche. (Although government officials
declare that this concession was declined, sources in Cabo Delgado Province state that Heaven on Earth has
begun operations.)