Masvingo is set to host Zimbabwe’s mine surveying fraternity this week when the Association of Mine Surveyors of Zimbabwe (AMSZ) holds its 41st Annual General Meeting and Conference at the Great Zimbabwe Hotel from Thursday to Friday.
Running under the theme “From Survey to Service and Strategic Partnerships for National Mining Growth,” the conference will focus on the profession’s evolving role in digital mining, mineral accountability and strategic decision-making.
The two-day gathering is expected to bring together mine surveyors, Government officials, mining companies, investors, development partners, suppliers and technical experts to deliberate on the changing demands of Zimbabwe’s mining industry.
AMSZ president, Stewart Gumbie said the profession was evolving alongside technological changes in the mining sector, with surveyors increasingly becoming custodians of digital information used to guide mining decisions.
“The role of the mining surveyor is also evolving in line with the evolution that is already underway in our mining sector. We are now moving towards being a strategic digital data custodian and administrator. Gone are the days of trial and error because now, with big data, we can run multiple simulations,” Gumbie said.
He said data collected by surveyors was increasingly being used to model different mining scenarios, allowing companies to determine the most suitable mining methods before committing resources.
“We can now pick, for instance, the best mining method based on various simulations that we can run from our big data using high-end technology and support from the information and the data that surveyors collect and build into the system,” Gumbie said.
The Masvingo conference will therefore provide a platform for the profession to examine how digital technologies can strengthen mine planning, production verification, mineral accountability and operational efficiency.
Beyond technical surveying, delegates are expected to discuss policy and regulatory reforms, cadastre modernisation, environmental, social and governance requirements, beneficiation and the regularisation of small-scale mining.
The conference is being held at a time when Zimbabwe’s mining sector is placing increasing emphasis on accurate data, transparency and technology to improve resource management and investment decision-making.
The AMSZ says its conference agenda is increasingly focused on positioning mine surveyors as strategic partners in the mining value chain rather than limiting their contribution to conventional surveying functions.
The theme “From Survey to Service” reflects that shift, with the profession seeking to translate its technical expertise and growing digital capabilities into services and partnerships that can contribute to national mining growth.
The conference will be held on August 27–28, with the AGM scheduled for Thursday and the main conference and exhibition on Friday.
