The Vocational Training Centre was consolidated in partnership with The Government Professional Training Institute. It aims to create the opportunities for local villagers, especially young adults, to qualify for ongoing employment, thereby enabling them to contribute towards building the regional and national economy; this, in turn, will create successful, self-reliant communities.

The training will also equip these citizens with a national qualification that they can use to seek future employment. In this first intake, a total of 100 trainees began training programmes, from which 95 successfully completed the training and received certificates of participation. The next cohort will consist of 300 trainees over the next year. Nthoro resident Deolinda Jerónimo has been contracted by the construction company of the Resettlement Village since completing her training. She says: “Before receiving training, I was unemployed and dependent on my parents. Today, in addition to earning my own money, I can participate in the construction of my home. I enjoy my profession and I want to continue to practice it even after the village is completed.” She was part of the first group trained by the Vocational Training Centre (VTC).

The first MRM Mobile Health Clinic was introduced in March 2017, and the second in May 2018. Both have now been serving ten of the villages in and around our Montepuez concession which are too far to use the Namanhumbir Health Centre. Access to medical services in the northern province of Cabo Delgado in Mozambique is extremely limited, with preventative care beyond the reach of most people. According to Lucas Sete, Senior Community Liaison Officer, “the health centre closest to the villages surrounding MRM is more than 25 km away, making preventative care inaccessible to most people. ” More than 68,000 consultations have been held to date, including screening for diseases, vaccination, a deworming programme for children, vitamin A supplementation and prenatal and nutritional consultations. The vehicles contain malaria, gastro-intestinal and HIV/AIDs testing equipment, basic pills and equipment such as blood pressure pumps and equipment to inspect eyes and ears. This allows the nurses to administer basic health care, provide prescriptions and make referrals to other doctors or to the hospital.

The company supported Nseue Primary School in rehabilitating eight of its classrooms and constructing three more. Elias José Teófilo, the director of the school, stated: “the level of education in the Nseue community has increased significantly, and there is a prospect of integrating other levels in 2019.”

Before MRM’s support, the children had classes outdoors and lacked proper conditions to obtain good results. According to Teófilo, “MRM, in addition to improving infrastructure, has helped to create motivational conditions for children, such as the distribution of school materials and the creation of both a football pitch and children’s playground.”

The school was inaugurated by the President of Mozambique, Filipe J Nyusi.

Kagem Mining Limited, funded the December 2016 expansion of the Nkana clinic into a fully fledged health centre. Once completed in 2016, the centre added a delivery unit and maternity wing, children’s ward, dispensing clinic and nurses’ accommodation. The health centre serves a local population of 10,000.

The newly upgraded clinic is the first of its kind in the area and includes a male ward, female ward, isolation ward, paediatric wing and a maternity wing complete with a delivery room, postnatal ward and incubator room for premature babies. The additional wards mean the hospital can treat in-patients, thereby helping patients to avoid travelling long distances to Kalulushi or Kitwe for treatment.

Kagem has also furnished Nkana Health Centre with equipment such as beds, resuscitation machines, oxygen machines and an incinerator. The clinic has also added four staff quarters to house a doctor, clinical officer and two nurses so that patients can receive round-the-clock care. Conveniences such as mother shelters within the fenced compound, and geysers, air-conditioners and showers have also been installed to ensure the comfort of patients.