Story by Panashe Nagoli
THE Government has set 31 December as the deadline for the rollout of the Mining Cadastre System, a move aimed at improving transparency, efficiency and accountability in the mining sector.
The digital system is expected to provide a transparent and efficient framework for promoting responsible and sustainable mining while improving the administration of mining rights.
Under the Second Republic, Zimbabwe is targeting a US$12 billion mining industry by 2030 in line with the National Development Strategy 2.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, Dr Thomas Utete Wushe, said the target could be achieved ahead of schedule if mining stakeholders conduct their operations transparently and meet their statutory obligations.
“To create the US$12 billion mining economy by 2030, I think we can actually achieve that before 2030 if we do business in an official and transparent manner. We have about 66 000 mining title holders in Zimbabwe covering about five million hectares, while exclusive holders occupy about six million hectares of land. These are massive mining assets that we want to convert into value for Zimbabwe,” he said.
Dr Utete Wushe said Government expects all mining title holders to fulfil their financial obligations to increase revenue for investment in key social sectors.
“Each of the holders must pay what they should so that we raise revenue to invest in other social sectors,” he said.
He said Government is also strengthening mining governance through the introduction of the Mining Cadastre System.
“We want to know exactly where mining is taking place with the best possible precision. We are completing the implementation of the cadastre system, which will clearly map out ownership of mining titles. We have set ourselves an ambitious target of launching it by December 31,” he said.
The Mining Cadastre System will be integrated with existing systems at the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) and the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, creating a streamlined platform that is expected to improve transparency, enhance administration and simplify investment processes in Zimbabwe’s mining sector.
