Mineral Output Statistical Evaluation System

Country / jurisdiction: Zambia · Year: 2016 · Status: In force · Level: National · Type: Voluntary

The Mineral Output Statistical Evaluation System (MOSES) is Zambia’s digital traceability platform designed to monitor and regulate the production and export of key minerals. Developed in 2016 by the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) in collaboration with UNCTAD, MOSES was introduced to combat illicit financial flows, improve transparency and ensure accurate revenue collection in the mining sector. It primarily applies to high-value and strategic minerals, including copper, gold, emeralds, amethyst, tin, and manganese. These minerals are tracked from the point of extraction to export, making MOSES a cornerstone of Zambia’s mineral governance framework.

Key Measures Under Zambia’s MOSES Traceability System include:

Electronic Export Permit System

All mineral exports must be registered and approved through the MOSES platform. Exporters are required to submit documentation such as licences, tax clearance certificates and mineral evaluation reports.

Mandatory Monthly Reporting

Mining companies must submit monthly production and export data electronically. This digital process replaces manual reporting, reducing delays and improving data accuracy.

Real-Time Monitoring

MOSES tracks minerals such as copper from the point of extraction to export. It cross-verifies production data with export permits and customs declarations, monitoring transport routes, quantities and declared values to detect discrepancies or underreporting.

Integration with Other Government Systems

MOSES is integrated with the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) and other regulatory bodies. This enables real-time data sharing and enforcement, ensuring taxes and royalties are correctly assessed and collected.

Automated Alerts and Analytics

The system flags anomalies or suspicious patterns, such as sudden drops in reported production or exports to countries that do not report receiving Zambian minerals, for example Switzerland.

Minerals Covered by MOSES

The system applies to high-value and strategic minerals including copper, gold, emeralds, amethyst, tin and manganese. Industrial minerals such as limestone and gypsum are excluded and handled manually.

Official source: https://unctad.org/news/mineral-tracking-tool-helps-zambia-combat-illicit-financial-flows