FORBIDDEN STORIES: Killed while livestreaming — the blogger who exposed Mozambique’s toxic chromium mining corridor
In late 2024, a young Mozambican blogger named Mano Shottas was shot and killed while livestreaming a protest against pollution linked to the transport of chromium ore. Since then, illegal dumping has persisted along the border with South Africa, with little response from the authorities. The few whistleblowers have been the target of death threats.
In late 2024, Mano Shottas, a young blogger from Mozambique, was fatally shot while livestreaming a protest against pollution caused by the transportation of chromium ore. The blogger, also known as Albino Sibia, continued to record as the footage went dark. The incident occurred in Ressano Garcia, a small town near the Mozambique-South Africa border.
Shottas had been documenting protests, local news, and water pollution via Facebook for the past 18 months, leading to his arrest in January 2024. Despite being shot, he managed to turn the camera towards himself and broadcast his final words: "I've been shot. I've been shot, and they keep shooting." His death was confirmed a few hours later.
The investigation revealed that law enforcement was involved in Shottas' death, and Forbidden Stories analyzed open-source information to demonstrate this. The chromium trade route from South Africa to Mozambique is a significant issue, with about 1,000 trucks carrying chromium and other minerals passing through Ressano Garcia daily.
This transportation method is preferred over rail or shipping due to its reliability, and it contributes to soil contamination along the Komati River. South Africa's authorities have been unable to resolve the problem, despite being alerted to it.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Maverick's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
