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By: Richard Williams/0775339618/ 0881084573/ [email protected]
Tubmanburg, Bomi County — Residents of Zalakai, a town in Senjeh District, Bomi County, have expressed growing concern over environmental damage and disruption of livelihoods allegedly caused by the operations of the Congo Mining Company. The community, home to over 500 residents, is reeling from blocked water sources and pollution associated with the company’s preparations for full-scale mining activities.
Congo Mining Company, which acquired a Class “A” license in 2024 to extract black sand deposits left behind by the defunct Liberia Mining Company (LMC), is accused of cutting off a vital water source that locals depend on for both agricultural and domestic use. The black sand, or tailings, once considered waste, has in recent years become a productive area for farming due to its rich fertility.
According to Town Chief Edwin Momolu, the blockage of the water channel by the company has severely impacted their ability to cultivate crops, especially rice. “We used the water that the company blocked to cook, bathe, and irrigate our gardens. This area is where we grow our rice and vegetables,” said Chief Momolu. “Currently, our lowland rice farm spans about 40 hectares, and it is being supported through the government’s STAR Project.”
The STAR Project, a flagship agricultural initiative under the Ministry of Agriculture, aims to support rural farmers in increasing food production. Zalakai has been one of the key communities benefiting from this intervention. However, with the water source now blocked, the success of this initiative hangs in the balance.
Chief Momolu is appealing to local authorities and relevant stakeholders to intervene swiftly and compel Congo Mining to restore access to clean water and support the continuation of farming activities. “We want the county leadership to help us. Our survival depends on this farming project,” he added.
In response to growing frustrations, Mr. Sando Perry, Chairperson of the Affected Communities Committee, urged residents to remain calm. He assured them that engagement with the company was ongoing and that efforts were being made to ensure the community’s concerns are addressed. “We’ve already raised the issue of potential relocation and long-term impacts. We want to ensure our people are protected from the effects of mining,” Perry stated.
Congo Mining Company, through its Human Resources Manager, Marvelene Lepukoi, acknowledged the concerns and affirmed the company’s commitment to mitigating the impacts of its operations. She announced that the company is working on a plan to provide an alternative water source for domestic use. Lepukoi also disclosed that a long-term relocation strategy is being developed for farmers operating within the concession area.
“Although we have not yet started mining in the area currently being farmed, we are encouraging farmers to start considering options for relocation,” she explained.
The tension surrounding the issue escalated further after Liberia’s Deputy Minister for Rural Development and Extension Services, Moses Gbanyan, visited the affected communities and raised alarms over the destruction of farmland due to ongoing mining activities. Speaking during a field visit, Minister Gbanyan warned that further encroachment into agricultural zones, particularly in nearby Borbor Town, could threaten food production in the region.
“The Ministry of Agriculture is committed to supporting farmers, but such mining activities pose a serious risk to our investment in agricultural development,” the Deputy Minister emphasized. He urged citizens to remain vigilant and understand the long-term implications of mining on farming.
With no clear resolution in sight, the future of the Zalakai farming community—and the government’s STAR Project—remains uncertain. As the dispute between local farmers and the mining company continues, residents are calling for urgent government intervention to safeguard their water sources, farmland, and food security.
