The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development has moved to address long-standing complaints from miners over delays and unfairness in dispute resolution, with Minister Dr Polite Kambamura giving a firm assurance that all disputes will now be resolved on time and fairly, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
In a hard-hitting address to ministry officials, the Minister made it clear that excellence is a discipline, not an accident, and that the days of sluggish correspondence, permit delays, and unresolved disputes are numbered.
“I am setting before you a bold but achievable goal. By the close of this year, I want the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development to be recognised as the best-performing ministry in the whole of Government, measured not by our words, but by results,” said Minister Kambamura.
He elaborated on what this would entail: “I want us to be the Ministry that answers correspondence on time, that processes titles and permits without delay, that produces accurate data, that resolves disputes fairly, and that the public trusts.”
The Minister’s remarks come amid persistent complaints from artisanal and small-scale miners, as well as established mining entities, that disputes over mining claims, boundary encroachments, and ownership rights often drag on for months or even years, with some alleging that decisions are influenced by favouritism or corruption.
Minister Kambamura acknowledged that public trust has been eroded but vowed to restore it through decisive action.
“Excellence is not an accident; it is a discipline. It is built one well-handled file, one honest decision, and one met deadline at a time,” he said.
He challenged ministry staff to raise their standards, noting that they are among the most technically gifted in the public service and that the ministry’s mandate is among the most consequential in the nation.
“What remains is for each of us to decide, individually and collectively, that good enough is no longer good enough,” the Minister declared.
In a veiled caution to miners themselves, the Minister also took the sector to task, urging them to play their part in reducing unnecessary litigation and to adhere to proper procedures when staking claims and registering mining titles.
He warned that frivolous disputes and failure to comply with existing regulations would no longer be tolerated, as they clog the system and disadvantage genuine investors.
Miners who spoke to Mining Zimbabwe welcomed the Minister’s assurance but expressed scepticism, saying past promises have not translated into action. One small-scale miner from Kadoma, who requested anonymity, said: “We have heard many pledges. What we need is to see disputes resolved within weeks, not years.”
In response, Minister Kambamura reiterated that his ambition is backed by a clear performance framework, with staff being held accountable for delays. He has directed the ministry’s dispute resolution committee to clear all backlog cases by the end of the second quarter and to ensure that new disputes are resolved within statutory timeframes.
“We have every reason to aim this high. Our colleagues are among the most technically gifted in the public service. Our mandate is among the most consequential in the nation. What remains is for each of us to decide, individually and collectively, that good enough is no longer good enough,” he said.
The Minister also disclosed that he will personally monitor dispute resolution outcomes and that parties on both sides of a dispute can expect transparent, evidence-based rulings.
“We will resolve disputes fairly to gain public trust,” he said, adding that any officer found to be deliberately delaying or mishandling a dispute will face disciplinary action.
With the mining sector being a cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s economic turnaround, stakeholders say timely and fair dispute resolution is not a luxury but a necessity. Minister Kambamura’s directive, if fully implemented, could restore investor confidence and unlock the potential of a sector that has long been held back by administrative inertia.
