ENTRY DESCRIPTION
Mudere mine, North Kivu region, D.R.Congo. A miner works inside a tunnel of the mine. The minerals, coltan and manganese, are extracted by hand, using only pickaxes and shovels.
Coltan and manganese are rare metals used to make mobile phones and computers. The market value is so high as to have aroused the interest of criminal organizations, in order to destabilize the political situation and take control of the mining business at a reasonable price, financial backing is given to armed groups waging war on one another. Rubaya town and Mudere mine are in the hands of Nyatura soldiers, an illegal armed militia. They control the territory, exploiting the local population and reselling its natural resources: the proceeds are used to buy other weapons that provide additional power, this creating a vicious circle it is difficult to break. Soldiers patrol the territory around the Mudere mine where miners dig 20 meters underground. After workers transporting minerals to a nearby river where they are separated from rocks and sand before being sold to dealers. In Rubaya town, between brothels and homemade alcohol, Nyatura survive by bullying, through abuse of power, abuse of civilians, raiding night and day and demanding tax on all forms of activity in the city.

AUTHOR
Erberto Zani is an Italian photographer and journalist freelance, based between Parma (Italy) and Basel (Switzerland). Since 1998 until 2004 he worked as photographer in advertisement sector. After some years as journalist for a local newspaper, becomes independent since 2008. Most of his works are focused on human rights issues.

Books published:
Vado, vedo, racconto (ed. Il mio libro, 2022), Urban Visions (ed. Blurb, 2021), Elemental Fashion (ed. Blurb, 2019), Exodus (ed. Blurb, 2018), Kied Pologo (ed. Stamperia, 2017), Aftermath (ed. Stamperia, 2016), Black World (ed. Stamperia, 2015), Maha Kumbh Mela (ed. Stamperia, 2014), Tsiry (ed. Stamperia, 2014), Babanagar-Colombia (ed. Stamperia, 2013), Sahel (ed. Stamperia, 2012), Hope (ed. Stamperia, 2011), Haiti, fragments (ed. Stamperia, 2010), Drops of Life (ed. Stamperia, 2010), Da Borgo San Donnino al Passo della Cisa (ed. Publiprint, 2006).

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