Zimbabwe’s long-awaited Online Mineral Export Permit System is now 96% complete, marking a significant step forward in efforts to modernise mineral exports and ease long-standing bottlenecks in the sector, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Ryan Chigoche
The latest update was delivered during the 14th Cabinet briefing, which said the progress had been presented by the Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Polite Kambamura, as part of the Ministry’s broader economic transformation agenda.
“In terms of inclusive economic growth and structural transformation, the Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Honourable Polite Kambamura, highlighted the following projects: i. Establishment of an Online Mineral Export Permit System which is now 96% complete,” the government said.
For a sector that has long struggled with slow and paper-heavy export processes, the update is more than just a percentage point; it points to a system that is finally nearing the finish line.
Once operational, the platform is expected to streamline approvals, improve transparency, and cut down the need for physical paperwork, which has often been at the centre of delays.
The timing is also significant. The push to digitise export permits comes after recent government efforts to tighten control over mineral exports following concerns around malpractices, leakages, and inefficiencies in the system.
In that context, the new platform is expected to do more than just improve speed; it is also meant to strengthen compliance and restore confidence in the export process.
However, that said, the industry has heard “almost complete” before. For some time now, the system has been described as being in its final stages; for example, in May 2025, it was said to be 90% complete.
While the 96% figure is encouraging, miners will be watching closely to see when it actually goes live and starts making a difference on the ground.
That urgency is not without reason. As reported by Mining Zimbabwe, delays in export approvals remain a major challenge, with some producers reportedly waiting between two to six months for clearances, even when all paperwork and off-take agreements are in place.
Much of the frustration, industry players say, stems from coordination gaps between the Ministry of Mines and the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe, which have slowed decision-making and added layers to the approval process.
The consequences are already being felt. Some off-takers have begun pulling back from deals due to uncertainty, while others are turning to faster-moving jurisdictions such as Zambia and Mozambique.
Against that backdrop, the near completion of the online system brings a sense of cautious optimism.
The Minister of Mines also updated the government on the progress of several key mining and energy infrastructure projects across the country, highlighting continued momentum in industrial development.
These include the implementation of the Fife Miles Industrial Park second phase expansion in Hwange, Matabeleland North Province, alongside associated power plant and cement plant expansions, which are all progressing towards second phase completion.
He further noted that the Dibon Mines tungsten processing plant in Chiredzi, Masvingo Province, is on course for completion, while the Palm River Energy Metallurgical Special Economic Zone second phase expansion project in Beitbridge, Matabeleland South Province, is now about 90 per cent complete.
In addition, work is advancing on the establishment of the Gold Service Centre in Mberengwa, Midlands Province, as well as the Empress Mine gold processing plant in Mashava, Masvingo Province, both of which are reported to be on course.
