Manicaland mining cadastre system now online
The implementation of the Mining Cadastre Information Management System is now at an advanced stage with the Manicaland pilot project now operational online, the Minister of Finance and Economic Development Prof Mthuli Ncube has said.
Rudairo Mapuranga
The Mining Cadastre Portal provides an e-Government platform for all stakeholders in the mineral sector to engage directly with the mining commissioners who issue mining certificates. The aim of the Portal is to ensure international standards of transparency with an emphasis on improving the ease of doing business in Zimbabwe.
The computerized cadastre Portal will be open for registrations for existing mineral titleholders who will have a period to verify and validate their individual mineral titles. Once verified, registered users will be able to view their portfolios and provide feedback on title data. Online applications and other portfolio management functionality will commence after the inauguration of the system.
According to Prof Ncube through budget strategy paper 2023, with the Manicaland mining cadastre system now online, the government is optimistic that all other mining provinces will be online in 2023.
“The implementation of the computerised mining cadastre system is at an advanced stage. Data capturing and provision for a platform for clients to log on to the system to apply for the mining title is at an advanced stage. Manicaland is now operating online, with the rest of the mining provinces targeted to be online in 2023 once the data capturing exercise is complete,” Prof Ncube said.
Currently, the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development is flooded with several running disputes caused by over-pegging and double allocation of mining titles which at times results in chaos in the sector.
The introduction of the new mapping system is therefore expected to bring sanity to Zimbabwe’s mining sector, the Southern African country’s single largest foreign currency earner, and spur growth through that economic segment.
Advantages of the cadastre system
The computer-based cadastre system is expected to enhance transparency and accountability in the administration of mining titles.
The cadastre system will have all records of interest in the land such as licence holders’ rights, restrictions and government activities.
The computerised mining register is also expected to be the central database for the storage of information on applications and licences.
It is also expected to reduce processing time for the issuance of mining titles and other mining services in line with best practices across the globe.
Currently, mining licence separations are marked on the ground by metal stakes, concrete beacons, or some other fixed points surveyed using conventional methods such as theodolite or archaic methods involving tape and chains. This method has been criticized for breeding corruption in the allocation of titles.
The cadastre system will therefore help curb corruption in the allocation of mining claims.