The company Moz Environmental announced on Monday, 27th October that it will relocate its solid waste incineration unit from Metula neighborhood, in Pemba, to a new site considered safer. The process is expected to take about one and a half years.
The decision was communicated by company spokesperson Alfredo Zandamela during a press conference, following growing community concerns about the environmental and health impacts allegedly caused by the company’s operations. Moz Environmental works in the management and recycling of waste generated by large mining, oil, and gas projects in Cabo Delgado province.
Zandamela stated that the relocation aims to “minimize environmental risks and protect the health of nearby populations,” assuring that the company will continue to comply with all existing environmental and safety regulations throughout the process.
However, residents of Metula expressed mixed feelings relieved that the plant will finally be moved, yet frustrated by the long timeline and what they describe as years of neglect. The community argues that the pollution problem dates back to 2014, and that the 18-month deadline is too long for those who have suffered from smoke and toxic odors for more than a decade.
Community leaders also questioned why the company did not begin relocation earlier, especially after the Pemba Municipal Council issued a final warning demanding the transfer a directive that, according to local sources, the company ignored.
The announcement comes amid a sensitive backdrop: the Cabo Delgado Provincial Prosecutor’s Office is currently investigating the death of two children, allegedly linked to pollution from the company’s operations. The case has reignited debate over corporate environmental responsibility and the need for stronger oversight of industrial waste management in the region.
While the relocation process unfolds, residents of Metula say they will remain vigilant and hope that this time, the company’s promises will not fade away with time. Mozanorte
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