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Zimbabwe’s mining sector is undergoing a decisive transformation, and mine surveyors are increasingly at the centre of it. Once seen as back-end technical workers, surveyors are now emerging as key players in a data-driven and legally rigorous mining environment, where accuracy, professionalism, and geospatial compliance have become non-negotiable.
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By Ryan Chigoche
This requirement is tied to the rollout of Zimbabwe’s long-awaited Mining Cadastre Information Management System (MCIMS), a digital platform meant to replace the outdated, paper-based title system.
To ensure data integrity, the Ministry of Mines has mandated that only registered mine surveyors using survey-grade equipment are allowed to collect and submit coordinates. This move instantly elevated the professional surveyor’s role from technical support to gatekeeper of legal compliance.
While the policy is a leap forward for title management, it has also placed traditional peggers and artisanal miners in a tight spot. Many of these operators lack access to survey-grade instruments and do not possess the technical knowledge needed to meet the new requirements.
Peggers (Staking Agents) Under Pressure: The Need for Training or risk losing relevance
For years, peggers have played a central role in Zimbabwe’s small-scale mining landscape, staking claims, marking boundaries, and supporting prospecting efforts. But as compliance becomes more technical, there is a real risk that the famous peggers will be left behind.
It’s more likely that current mine surveyors will also register as staking agents. This will most likely be a cheaper option for miners since they only need one surveyor-pegger (Survegger) instead of hiring both a pegger and a surveyor.
There is now a clear and urgent need for short-term training programmes to help peggers transition and upgrade into the new framework.
A Boon for Survey Equipment Suppliers
This transition has opened up a significant growth opportunity for mine survey equipment suppliers and service providers. With the e-cadastre deadline fast approaching, the demand for certified, high-precision tools such as RTK GPS units, total stations, drones, and 3D scanners is expected to rise sharply. Both large- and small-scale miners are now under pressure to comply with new geospatial standards, creating a broad and urgent market for dependable surveying solutions.
Suppliers that provide flexible, tiered equipment options to suit different budget levels will be well-positioned to capture this emerging demand. Even more critical will be the ability to offer local technical support, equipment calibration services, and hands-on training to ensure buyers can fully implement and maintain their tools. Those who go further by staging live demonstrations, conducting outreach in rural mining communities, or forming strategic partnerships with industry bodies and training institutions will stand out as essential partners in the sector’s digital shift.
For suppliers, this moment is not only a chance to grow their footprint it is an opportunity to help shape the future of compliant, technology-driven mining in Zimbabwe.
The Profession Evolves: From Technician to Strategic Partner
Beyond compliance, mine surveyors are playing an increasingly strategic role in mining operations.
Conclusion: Inclusion Must Match Innovation
The push toward digitalisation and legal precision is a welcome development for Zimbabwe’s mining sector. It promises greater transparency, reduced disputes, and improved investor confidence.
But for the transition to be truly successful, it must include everyone.
Supporting accessible training for peggers, expanding the availability of affordable equipment, and reinforcing the role of qualified surveyors are essential next steps. The opportunity exists for government, industry, and the private sector to work together to build a more inclusive, tech-enabled, and compliant mining landscape.
In this new era, mine surveyors are no longer operating in the shadows, they are leading from the front.
