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In a major policy shift aimed at curbing rampant mining boundary disputes, the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development has officially begun turning away miners and peggers who submit claims or applications without survey-grade coordinates.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
The Ministry is now enforcing a strict directive requiring all prospecting, pegging, and registration applications to be accompanied by coordinates produced by a registered and certified surveyor.
This move, which is already being implemented nationwide, effectively bans the use of handheld GPS devices for pegging claims — a practice long associated with imprecise boundaries and overlapping titles that have fueled disputes, double allocations, and in some cases, violent confrontations among miners.
According to officials, miners must now engage licensed surveyors who are registered in the Ministry of Mines database and are paid-up members of the Association of Mine Surveyors of Zimbabwe (AMSZ). This ensures accountability, professional standards, and integration with Zimbabwe’s evolving digital mining cadastre system.
Miners and peggers who approach provincial offices without proper coordinates are being turned away and told to return only after obtaining surveyor-authenticated data.
“I bought a prospecting licence and thought I was ready to submit my paperwork,” said Tafadzwa Chikowore, an artisanal miner. “To my surprise, the Ministry officer said I must bring coordinates signed off by a surveyor from their list. I had to go back and find a registered surveyor from AMSZ — it’s serious now.”
Sources from within the Ministry say the move is part of efforts to sanitize the sector, improve the security of tenure, and create a reliable and conflict-free digital cadastre for Zimbabwe’s mining operations.
“We’ve seen too many disputes due to inaccurate boundary markings and speculative pegging,” said a Mines Ministry official. “From now on, we’re not processing anything unless the coordinates are traceable to a professional surveyor who is on our system and affiliated with AMSZ. It’s about order and accountability.”
The use of handheld GPS units, though convenient and previously common, has been found to produce inaccurate and inconsistent location data. In a mineral-rich country like Zimbabwe, where claims often lie close together, even a 10-meter error can lead to a serious legal dispute or loss of investment. The new approach ensures all claims are accurately pegged, registered, and digitally mapped in alignment with Zimbabwe’s national geospatial systems.
The Association of Mine Surveyors of Zimbabwe (AMSZ) has welcomed the enforcement of the rule, saying it affirms the importance of professionalism and raises the standard of practice in the sector.
“We commend the Ministry for recognizing the role of professional surveyors in bringing integrity to pegging processes,” said AMSZ President Stewart Gumbi. “Our members are qualified and trained to provide precise geospatial data. This decision also protects miners — it ensures their claims are legally defensible and georeferenced in the national system.”
While some small-scale miners have raised concerns over the additional costs involved in hiring licensed surveyors, stakeholders say the benefits far outweigh the short-term inconvenience.
“Yes, it’s a bit more expensive now,” said Chikowore. “But at least I know my claim is secure and will not be contested because of incorrect pegging. In the long run, this saves us from bigger losses.”
The development is part of the Ministry’s broader push to modernize and formalize mining activities, particularly in the Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) sector. Officials believe that proper mapping and surveying are critical to unlocking investment and building investor confidence in the sector.
The Ministry is also planning to strengthen enforcement mechanisms and introduce stiffer penalties for individuals caught pegging claims without surveyor-authenticated coordinates.
“This isn’t a suggestion. It’s now mandatory. If you want your paperwork processed, make sure your coordinates come from someone who’s registered and recognized by the Ministry and AMSZ. Otherwise, you’re wasting your time,” a Ministry official said.
As Zimbabwe pushes forward with mining reforms and the rollout of a digital cadastre, the insistence on survey-grade coordinates marks a turning point for governance in the sector. It signals the end of an era dominated by informal practices and boundary confusion — and the beginning of a more professional and transparent mining environment.
