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The Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Honourable Winston Chitando, has issued a clear message to global investors: a major shake-up in the country’s mining title system is set to release a flood of new opportunities for technically and financially capable partners, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
Speaking at an investment forum in Australia held on the sidelines of the Africa Down Under conference, Minister Chitando detailed the government’s aggressive enforcement of the “use it or lose it” principle, targeting dormant mining titles—some dating back to the 1960s and 70s—that have been held speculatively with no development.
“You now need to prove financial and technical capacity before being granted a mining title,” stated Chitando, referencing upcoming amendments to the Mines and Minerals Act. “A significant number of mining titles issued are underutilised because there wasn’t this requirement.”
The Minister outlined that the government is now actively calling on holders of ancient titles to justify why they should retain them. This enforcement drive is poised to unlock vast tracts of highly prospective ground that will become available for partnership, investment, or reissuance.
Chitando positioned this as a historic opportunity for investors, outlining four clear entry points into the Zimbabwean mining sector:
Partnering with private title holders seeking capital and expertise.
Partnering directly with government on state-owned assets.
Applying for new titles and special grants on government-held ground.
Undertaking greenfield exploration in open areas.
He saved his most compelling argument for the explorationists in the audience, citing a recent case where an investor’s modern exploration techniques on a 20,000-hectare property revealed a geological picture “completely different” from the government’s original maps.
“This, to some extent, indicates the opportunity which exists in exploration in the country,” he said. “For those who really want to see massive uplifts in their investments, exploration is a key opportunity.”
The Minister concluded by reaffirming Zimbabwe’s status as a “tried and tested” mining jurisdiction, rich in critical minerals, gold, PGMs, and base metals like copper and nickel, all of which are attracting a new wave of investment aligned with the global energy transition.
Minister Chitando’s message from Perth was unequivocal: Zimbabwe is not only open for business but is actively clearing the path for serious investors to capitalise on its underexplored and underdeveloped mineral wealth.
