The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development has launched nationwide blitz inspections of alluvial chrome mining operations and processing plants, effective 25 September 2026, in a bid to enforce compliance with the Mines and Minerals Act.
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Read E-PaperThe first phase of the crackdown targets Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland West, and Midlands Provinces before extending to other provinces.
Under Section 222 of the Mines and Minerals Act [Chapter 21:05], chromite is a designated mineral. No person may work its alluvial or eluvial deposit without a Mining Affairs Board order under Section 225.
Non-compliant operations face suspension and penalties, while processing plants will also be inspected for regulatory compliance.
In a statement, Secretary for Mines and Mining Development Dr. T. U. Wushe issued a stern warning to illegal operators.
“The Ministry has begun nationwide blitz inspections of alluvial chrome mining operations and processing plants to enforce compliance with mining laws. “Non-compliant operations face suspension and penalties,” said Dr Wushe.
The Ministry has also called on the public to assist in the crackdown by reporting suspected illegal alluvial chrome mining.
The inspections are being conducted under the authority of the Permanent Secretary, with the full weight of the Mines and Minerals Act behind the enforcement drive.
In a related matter, the Mines Ministry has issued a stern ultimatum to all mining rights holders with outstanding statutory obligations to regularise by 31 December 2026 or risk losing your claims.
In a notice signed by Secretary for Mines and Mining Development Dr. Wushe, the Ministry directed all mining rights holders, regardless of scale, to engage their respective Provincial Mining Offices without delay and settle all outstanding obligations or obtain an approved payment plan.
“Failure to regularise mining rights by 31 December 2026 will result in forfeiture andor other enforcement action in accordance with the Mines and Minerals Act [Chapter 21:05],” he said.
The Ministry also requires rights holders to secure surveyed coordinates, complete all outstanding regularisation requirements, and submit applications well before the deadline.
“Mining rights holders are required to engage their respective Provincial Mining Offices without delay, settle all outstanding statutory obligations or obtain an approved payment plan, and submit and finalise regularisation applications well before the deadline.”
The notice, dated 30 September 2026, applies to all mining rights holders across the country and signals a hardening stance by the Ministry as it moves to clean up the sector’s compliance record.
