Miners, prospectors and lawyers who deal with mining titles in person will not be seen at the Deputy Cadastre Registrar's Office from Monday 26 October, while staff speed up the switch to a digital system.

The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development set out the change in Public Notice No. 07 of 2026, dated 23 October and signed by Permanent Secretary Dr Thomas Utete Wushe. NewZimbabwe, the Chronicle and the Daily News have all reported it.

What the notice says

"The Ministry advises the public, mining title holders, applicants, prospectors, legal practitioners and all stakeholders that, with effect from Monday 26 October 2026, the Deputy Cadastre Registrar's Office will not attend to walk-in visitors until further notice," Dr Utete Wushe said, as quoted by NewZimbabwe.

He said the step "will enable staff to accelerate the implementation of the digital Mining Title Management System, which will improve the speed, transparency, accuracy and security of mining title administration."

According to the Chronicle, people who need to lodge applications or documents should take them to their Provincial Mining Director's office instead. The ministry has not given an end date, and the Chronicle reports that a further notice will be issued when walk-in services return.

A warning about fake agents

Dr Utete Wushe also warned about fraudsters, the Chronicle reports. He said the ministry does not use agents to help people reach its services and does not charge fees for that kind of help. Anyone asked for money in return for access should report it through the ministry's toll-free line, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission or the police.

Why it matters

The suspension is the latest step in a wider push to put every mining title on one digital register. On 15 October the ministry started a 90-day exercise to capture title records, Mining Zimbabwe reported. The Herald says the data capture is running at the head office in Harare and at provincial offices in Bindura, Bulawayo, Chinhoyi, Gwanda, Gweru, Marondera, Masvingo and Mutare.

Title holders whose surveyed coordinates are not on file are being asked to hand in the title or claim number, the holder's name, the coordinates and a survey plan, survey diagram or beacon certificate to back them up. The ministry says the records stay in its custody, are handled in confidence, and that no payment is needed. Mining Zimbabwe points out that the earlier notice does not say titles will be cancelled where coordinates are missing.

In June, Dr Utete Wushe told the Chamber of Mines conference that about 60 per cent of the data was already uploaded, mostly for large mining companies, and that the system should go live before the end of 2026, Mining Zimbabwe reported. He said he hoped it would "bring a final end to conflicts and disputes regarding boundaries and titles".

What we don't know yet

How long walk-in services will stay suspended.

Whether the digital system will open to the public by the end of the year as planned.

Sources: NewZimbabwe (Anna Chibamu), 24 Oct 2026: https://www.newzimbabwe.com/mines-ministry-suspends-walk-in-services-at-cadastre-registrars-office-to-allow-digital-system-upload/ · Chronicle via Herald Online (Sikhumbuzo Moyo), 23 Oct 2026: https://www.heraldonline.co.zw/mines-ministry-suspends-walk-in-services/ · Daily News (Brighton Muronzereyi), 24 Oct 2026: https://dailynews.co.zw/ministry-suspends-cadastre-office-walk-ins/ · The Herald (Farirai Machivenyika), 20 Oct 2026: https://www.heraldonline.co.zw/90-day-digitisation-of-mining-records-begins/ · Mining Zimbabwe (Rudairo Mapuranga), 19 Oct 2026: https://miningzimbabwe.com/ministry-gives-miners-90-days-to-submit-missing-title-coordinates/ · Mining Zimbabwe, 18 Jun 2026: https://miningzimbabwe.com/e-cadastre-undergoing-live-tests-at-chamber-mining-conference-wushe/