Private sector to help in farm surveys to speed title deeds

The government has engaged the private sector to fast-track the surveying and issuance of title deeds to land reform beneficiaries, with a projected completion deadline of June 30, 2026, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister Anxious Masuka announced.

Speaking in the National Assembly, Minister Masuka said an estimated 24,000 Model A2 farmers and 360,000 Model A1 farmers are set to receive title deeds, with many of these farms still awaiting surveys. The government intends to expedite the process through the use of modern technology.

All land reform beneficiaries with valid tenure documents qualify for full ownership rights under the title deeds. To streamline processing, the Ministry has established a one-stop centre at Makombe Complex, which handles verification of tenure documents, dispute resolution, survey confirmation, payment processing, data capture, price determination, and conveyancing.

Minister Masuka outlined the financing options available to farmers. Those who pay the full purchase price in cash within 90 days receive a 15 percent discount, while farmers using a 12-month credit facility are eligible for a 5 percent rebate after full payment. In both cases, title deeds are processed only after payment has been completed.

"The government is committed to ensuring that all resettled farmers receive their title deeds by June 2026," Minister Masuka said, emphasizing that the initiative will formalize land ownership and support agricultural productivity across the country.