15 March – The mining production of the Mozambican province of Zambezia fell 13.8 percent in 2006, the provincial director of mining resources, Alfredo Nogueira told newspaper Notícias.

Nogueira explained the fall was due to production at the Muiane tantalite mine coming to a standstill after a dispute between the government and the concession-holder, South Africa's TAN Mining and Exploration South Africa, which was accused of not paying its workers and violating the terms of the concession.

The Mozambican government ended its concession contract with TAN and found another interested company, Switzerland's Highland African Mining, which is currently preparing a project to begin exploration at the mine.

In 2006, Zambezia's mining industry produced 649.6 tons of minerals, with most of it – 418.7 tons of tantalite, quartz, beryllium, morganite, tourmaline and other precious stones – exported to China, South Africa and Germany.

In the period the government of Zambezia netted 3.6 million meticals in taxes on mining in the province. – Macauhub