The Department of Mining Engineering has good facilities for research, including in-house computers and relevant software for mining applications. A large hall houses heavy mining equipment and machinery donated by industry. Most activities are focussed on the local Zimbabwean mining industry, and support has been provided by GTZ (Germany) in conjunction with the Zimbabwe Ministry of Mines, Environment and Tourism. Completed and on-going research projects are as follows:

• Filabusi Riverbed Project: the development and introduction of effective mining systems for the exploitation of marginal alluvial gold deposits by the informal small-scale mining sector.
• Development of a data bank of information on mineral resources in Zimbabwe
• Geostatistical evaluation of different types of mineral deposits
• Determination of governing parameters of a strategic planning process for the mining industry in Zimbabwe, in order to strengthen the competitiveness of the industry.
• Transformation of small scale informal mining operations to a competitive industry, while preserving the ecology of the mining environment.
• Evaluation of alternative systems for vertical haulage of ore in deep mines.
• An Engineering based rationalisation of mining regulations.
• Development of on-line and on time information and accounting systems for use in mine management.