Zimbabwe threatens to expropriate unused mining licences
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on 263Chat
Zimbabwe has tabled a new mining bill requiring companies to develop their licences or face expropriation. The bill, considered by the parliamentary mines committee on 12 November 2026, provides for work programmes and inspections, according to the report presented to Parliament.
Zimbabwe plans to tighten the conditions for exploiting mining rights and initiate expropriation procedures against sites that are insufficiently developed. The Mines and Minerals Bill, 2025, presented on 12 November 2026 to the parliamentary committee responsible for mines, notably provides for checking site development through work programmes, investments, production volumes and inspections, according to the Mines Ministry’s presentation to Parliament.
The bill also provides for the creation of a central mining cadastre registry containing information on sites, titles and mining rights, as well as data on their beneficial owners. The system is intended to facilitate title searches, secure concession boundaries and strengthen oversight of transactions, according to the presentation considered by Parliament.
