The Civil society in Bafwasende territory of Tshopo province have denounced the illicit and illegal exploitation of minerals by semi-industrial foreign companies in the area.
Illegal expoloitation of minerals by foreign companies has been active in Bafswende’s Nagasa and Bavadili river beds of the Bemili sector.
According to the local civil society, foreign companies have been using dredgers, robots and other sophisticated machines to extract gold, diamonds and other precious metals despite holding research permits only.
The foreign companies’ illegal mining activities have since put the local population at risk of facing the environmental consequences which include water pollution and the destruction of forests.
The civil society have since called for the suspension of the illegal mining activities pending legalization and compliance with appropriate standards.
“They are illegal because we have not found any document that certifies that they are valid to exploit this part. They exploit gold, but diamonds are found in this part. I do not know if with their machines, they can also exploit diamonds. This is what people do not know. More than a hundred machines have been found in this part. And the province will always continue to lose out on these raw materials that can nevertheless help it emerge. We have prepared the report that we will submit to the Provincial Assembly so that the provincial authority can take drastic measures to clear out everyone who illegally exploits the materials, especially in our province of Tshopo. Do you think that I, a Congolese, can leave here to go and exploit in China without authorization,” the president of the local civil society said.
