Uige - The governor of Uige province, José Carvalho da Rocha, on Friday denounced the existence of illegal gold mining in the municipality of Songo, 40 kilometres from the provincial capital.
Speaking to the press at the end of the Interior Minister's two-day visit to Uíge province, José Carvalho da Rocha admitted that the illegal gold mining situation in this municipality, as well as in several other localities in the region, was "blatant".
"At the moment we have this 'fever' in the municipality of Songo, which I consider to be the most blatant," said the governor.
To combat the scourge, he suggested tighter controls on movement along the 400km border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, as mining attracts many nationals and citizens from the neighbouring country.
The governor highlighted the contribution of the National Police and other Ministry of the Interior bodies in the province for their commitment to combating illegal immigration and other ills, having recognized the need for border control to be improved in the province.
José Carvalho da Rocha defended the need to carry out educational work and inform the population of the dangers posed by illegal immigration, fuel smuggling and the illegal exploitation of mining resources.
Located in a very rugged region, between plains, basins and mountain ranges, the province of Uíge covers an area of 58,698 km2.
It borders the province of Zaire to the west, the Democratic Republic of Congo to the north and east, the province of Malanje to the south-east and the provinces of Cuanza Norte and Bengo to the south. NM/JAR/AMP
