Procedure and Criteria for Issuing Exclusive Prospecting Orders (EPOs)

These are the procedures and Criteria for Issuing Exclusive Prospecting Orders (EPOs)

1.1 Application is made to Secretary, Mining Affairs Board who:-

acknowledges receipt of application by date-stamping and assigning it an application number e.g. EPO 1/09 (or EPO Application No. 1 of 2009), EPO 2/09 denoting the sequence in which they were received and the year received.
also checks fulfillment of legal requirements of the application.

1.2 Procedures of acquiring an EPO are detailed on the table below:

Processing Steps for Exclusive Prospecting Orders

STAGE	RESPONSIBILITY
	MAB Secretariat /Legal Services	Zimbabwe Geological Survey [ZGS]	MAB chaired by the Permanent Secretary	Minister/ President
1. Application Submission Accepts and assigns Application Number in the format Serial No./Year [eg 01/09…..217/09.] Sends Application copy to ZGS
2. Application Verification		Checks on: Area for overlaps etc; Work programme Budget Company profile Minerals sought Technical expertise Expected results
3. Application Noting		Recommends Applications to be noted after above assessment.	Based on available information application is NOTED or REJECTED
4. Application Gazettal	Reserves area. Draft General notice sent to Attorney General for checking		Publishes checked notice in Government Gazette for objections within 21 days.
5. Application Consideration	Invites Company to appear before MAB for interview		Interview conducted Consideration for recommendation or rejection made.
6. Application recommendation and Approval	Assigns EPO No. eg 4886…. Prepares Cabinet minute to President, supporting memo and draft General Notice of Order. Draft Notice sent to AG’s Office			General Notice sent to Minister and then to President for APPROVAL or REJECTION.
7. EPO Gazettal	Approved General Notice sent for Gazettal. Approved Order sent to Applicant
8. EPO Work Monitoring	Receives Six-monthly progress reports. Sends copies to ZGS. Evaluates six-monthly reports. Visits exploration sites. Makes recommendations to MAB. Compiles geo-technical data from EPO’s		Accepts or rejects continuation of exploration work.

Mining Affairs Board Criteria For Recommending EPO Applications

1.3 In making the recommendation the Board looks at the following (or should be satisfied with the following):-

the applicant(s)’ background;
corporate structure
that the applicant is a fit and proper person to obtain an Order and is of adequate financial standing to undertake such operations under an EPO;
that it would not be against national interest to make such an order;
the applicant’s programme of work; and
technical expertise;

1.4 The EPO is transferable with recommendations from the President.

Mining Affairs Board Criteria For Recommending EPO Applications

1.3 In making the recommendation the Board looks at the following (or should be satisfied with the following):-

the applicant(s)’ background;
corporate structure
that the applicant is a fit and proper person to obtain an Order and is of adequate financial standing to undertake such operations under an EPO;
that it would not be against national interest to make such an order;
the applicant’s programme of work; and
technical expertise;

1.4 The EPO is transferable with recommendations from the President.

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