The Zimbabwe National Institute of Rock Engineering (ZINIRE) will put technology, mine planning and improved ground-control practices at the centre of efforts to reduce fall-of-ground (FOG) incidents when its AGM and Annual Symposium returns to Victoria Falls on 23 October 2026, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
Organising Chairman and ZINIRE Vice President Freddy Chikwiri said the symposium aims to equip delegates across different levels of the mining industry with practical strategies to improve ground control, strengthen risk management and protect mineworkers without compromising production.
Held under the theme “Leveraging Technology for Next Generation Fall of Ground Management,” the event will bring together rock engineers, mine managers, surveyors, geologists, safety practitioners and other industry professionals to examine how improved engineering practices and technological advances can be applied to mining operations.
Chikwiri said ground control must be treated as an integral part of production planning rather than a constraint to mining output.
For general managers and mine managers, he said, the priority is to incorporate geotechnical engineering into capital budgeting and mine planning from the earliest stages of a project.
“A safer mine is inherently a more productive and profitable mine,” Chikwiri said, arguing that effective ground-control strategies should establish the conditions within which production can proceed safely.
He said investment in geological data collection, appropriate ground-control policies and their integration into mine designs could help reduce rehabilitation delays, ore dilution and the risk of stope failures that threaten workers and disrupt production.
For technical practitioners, including rock engineers, strata control officers and mine planners, the symposium will examine the potential application of artificial intelligence, machine learning and large datasets in mine design and predictive modelling.
Chikwiri noted that geological uncertainty presents challenges for the adoption of digital tools in mining, making the reliability of their outputs and the responsibilities attached to their use important issues for discussion.
Delegates will have opportunities to engage with software developers OHMS and Rocscience, discuss modelling approaches and compare methodologies used by specialist geotechnical consultancies.
The programme will also focus on Ground Control Management Plans (GCMPs) and Trigger Action Response Plans (TARPs), which help mines identify hazards, establish appropriate responses and match ground-support systems to specific rock-mass failure mechanisms.
Specialist manufacturers and distributors are also expected to showcase products relevant to ground-control management, giving practitioners an opportunity to assess technologies and support solutions applicable to their operations.
Chikwiri said effective fall-of-ground prevention also requires closer coordination between rock engineering teams and other technical departments.
Mine surveyors, geologists and Mineral Resource Management (MRM) teams generate information that can inform assessments of ground conditions, but its value depends on how effectively it is incorporated into engineering decisions.
The symposium will therefore examine ways to improve the integration of survey data, three-dimensional laser scans, geological logs and hazard maps into rock-engineering models.
Chikwiri said stronger collaboration between these disciplines could improve the identification of unsafe conditions and help mines respond to emerging ground-instability risks before they escalate.
Beyond individual mining operations, ZINIRE also hopes the technical programme will contribute to stronger professional capacity and the development of Zimbabwe’s next generation of rock-engineering specialists.
Technical papers and engagement among mining companies, regulators, safety practitioners, academics and technology providers are expected to support the exchange of experience and ideas on improving ground-control standards across the industry.
