Zimbabwe’s Mining Cadastre Management Information System is set to transform the country’s mining rights regime by replacing its long-standing paper-based administration with a transparent, efficient and technology-driven platform designed to strengthen governance, eliminate long-standing title disputes and boost investor confidence, Business Times can report.
The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development has already digitised and uploaded more than 60,000 mining licenses, marking a major milestone in the rollout of the digital cadastre.
The repository covers blocks of claims, special grants, mining leases, exclusive prospecting orders, mining sites and other permits, laying the foundation for a modern mining title administration system.
The reform is expected to end persistent challenges that have dogged Zimbabwe’s mining sector, including overlapping claims, double allocations, over-pegging and lengthy processing delays, which have for years undermined investment and operational certainty.
Speaking during this week’s post-Cabinet briefing, Information Minister Soda Zhemu said the system is designed to fundamentally reshape the administration of mining rights and titles by embedding transparency, efficiency and accountability into one of Zimbabwe’s most strategic economic sectors.
“The Mining Cadastre Management Information System will improve competitiveness in the mining industry in order to attract increased investment through strengthened governance in the administration of mining rights.
To date, the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development has a repository of over 60,000 licences, spanning blocks of claims, special grants, mining leases, exclusive prospecting orders and sites, among other permits,” said Zhemu.
“The computerised mining title platform will address technical challenges experienced, which include disputes arising from overlapping titles and processing delays,” he added.
Once fully operational, the digitised cadastre system is expected to significantly reduce disputes over mining claims, accelerate application processing times and enhance the security and integrity of mining titles, positioning the sector for improved investor confidence and long-term growth. – (Business Times)
