The Government has moved a step closer to implementing Zimbabwe’s long-awaited Mining Cadastre Management Information System, a digital platform expected to improve transparency in mining title administration, reduce disputes over claims, and strengthen investor confidence in the sector, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Ryan Chigoche
Presenting the post-Cabinet briefing on Tuesday, the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr. Zhemu Soda, said Cabinet had received an update from the Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Dr. Polite Kambamura, on progress made in rolling out the system.
At the centre of the reform is the digitisation of more than 60,000 mining licences, including Blocks of Claims, Special Grants, Mining Leases, Exclusive Prospecting Orders (EPOs), mining locations, and other permits currently held by the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development.
Once fully operational, the system is expected to modernise the administration of mining rights by shifting from a largely paper-based registry to a computerised platform designed to improve efficiency, transparency, and governance in the allocation of mineral rights.
The reform is also expected to address long-standing challenges in the sector, particularly disputes arising from overlapping mining claims, as well as delays in the processing of applications—issues that have repeatedly been cited as barriers to investment.
In addition, the Government says the new system is aligned with broader efforts to improve the ease of doing business in the mining sector, where secure and predictable mineral tenure remains a key requirement for attracting exploration and long-term capital.
The latest update signals that the cadastre project has now entered its final phase of implementation, marking the most advanced stage yet in the long-running effort to digitise Zimbabwe’s mining title system.
First proposed in 2014, the project has faced repeated delays over the years, largely due to technical constraints and the verification of historical mining title records. However, officials now say the programme has gained momentum and is approaching full deployment.
Progress has already been made on the ground. About 60 percent of the country’s estimated 60,000 mining titles have been uploaded onto the system, allowing mining companies to view and verify their claims ahead of the full rollout.
Government officials say the platform is already partially functional, with mining data being continuously migrated as the system is finalised.
Both the public-facing application portal and the Ministry’s internal back-office processing system are now at an advanced stage of development, forming the core structure of the digital cadastre.
Authorities say earlier technical and operational bottlenecks have largely been resolved following staff training, data verification exercises, and closer coordination within the sector.
While nationwide rollout is still pending, officials say current work is focused on final refinements and system expansion ahead of a targeted full launch by December.
Once fully implemented, the electronic cadastre will replace Zimbabwe’s existing paper-based mining title registry with a digital system built on survey-grade geographic coordinates. The platform is expected to improve security of tenure, speed up licence processing, and create a more transparent and predictable investment environment.
Beyond improving administrative efficiency, the reform is also expected to support the formalisation of the artisanal and small-scale mining sector and strengthen Zimbabwe’s positioning as a competitive destination for mining exploration and long-term investment.
