MINING AS A BUSINESS: HOW TO OBTAIN A MINING CLAIM IN ZIMBABWE

A number of young people are not venturing to Mining Business due to lack of knowledge and the skill. On knowledge we are here to give the basics of venturing into a Mining Business, the procedure is less hectic and safe if all the procedures are followed. We are not to talk of the fortunes behind a successful mining venture.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Zimbabwe has 60 discovered minerals
• Any Zimbabwean Citizen above the age of 18 can acquire a mining claim.
• The Zimbabwean Mining Industry aims to be 12 Billion Dollar Industry by 2022
• Over 50% of Zimbabwe exports are minerals
• A prospectus license costs only 1000rtgs it allows you to:
  • Search for the land you want to mine for 2 years
  • Peg 10 claims at 1 hectare each or a total of 10 hectares of land

Prospecting and Pegging

• One has to apply for a prospecting licence, and when approved one automatically acquires the rights of prospecting and pegging mining claims anywhere in his respective district of registration.
• When a Prospecting Licence holder has identified a mineral deposit that he/she is interested in, he/she appoints an agent or an Approved Prospector to peg on his behalf.
• The agent is required to physically peg the area by marking the deposit with a Discovery Peg.  He/she should also post Prospecting, Discovery and Registration Notices on the ground.  The notices must be posted in a conspicuous manner to alert other prospectors.
• Before posting these notices the agent is required to inform/or seek consent from the landowner of his intention to prospect.

NB: Consent  is only sought from the landowner if prospecting on a farm less than 100 hectares, otherwise the prospector is only required to inform the farm/landowner in writing either by registered mail or deliver by hand.

Mine Registration

• All areas classified as not open to prospecting and pegging or reserved against prospecting and pegging cannot be pegged, e.g. cultivated lands, dip tanks, Dams, etc.
• An application for registration must be submitted to the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development offices. The application must have copies of the following attachments:
  • Prospecting license(s);
  • Prospecting Notice;
  • Discovery Notice (Base Minerals);
  • Notification of intention to prospect to the landowner;
  • A map in triplicate to the scale of 1:25000.
• If the Provincial Mining Directors is satisfied that all pegging procedures have been followed he shall issue a certificate of registration upon payment of the gazette fee.
• This allows the holder to start mining operations subject to meeting other obligations like Environment Impact Assessment (EIA).

Post-Mine Registration

• Within three months from the date of registration the miner is required to erect permanent beacons on the ground.
• All precious mineral claims are supposed to be continuously worked on in order to obtain renewal of title. Claims have a 12 month tenure after which they shall expire or be renewed.
• Gold and other precious metal claims are inspected by production and capital expenditure.
• Base metal claims can be protected by payment.
• If a mining claim is transferred or sold a Certificate of Registration after Transfer shall be issued by the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development.
• Failure to renew title will result in the forfeiture of a mining claim. Furthermore loss of title can be through cancellation or abandonment.

REFERENCE:

• Mines and Minerals Act
• Zimbabwe Mineral Potential Booklet