News / National
Zimbabwe govt makes U-turn on title deeds
14 Jun 2024 at 02:19hrs | Views
The Zimbabwean government has stated it will not issue title deeds for unserviced stands, including those in Epworth where President Emmerson Mnangagwa had promised to distribute them ahead of the August 2023 elections.
Although Mnangagwa pledged to provide over 11,000 title deeds and handed out 265 securitized title deeds in Epworth before the elections, the project appears to have stalled post-election, with only a few deeds given to individuals with close ties to the ruling Zanu-PF party.
Housing and Social Amenities Minister Zhemu Soda explained that the government, in partnership with the private sector, is working to regularize residential stands by ensuring necessary services like road infrastructure, water, and sewage systems are in place before issuing title deeds.
Soda clarified that Mnangagwa did not distribute title deeds during his campaign but rather deeds of grant, which are issued once key infrastructure developments are completed.
Critics argue that the government's use of land as a campaign tool is why 99-year leases have not been given to beneficiaries of the land reform program, keeping them as long-term tenants.
Although Mnangagwa pledged to provide over 11,000 title deeds and handed out 265 securitized title deeds in Epworth before the elections, the project appears to have stalled post-election, with only a few deeds given to individuals with close ties to the ruling Zanu-PF party.
Housing and Social Amenities Minister Zhemu Soda explained that the government, in partnership with the private sector, is working to regularize residential stands by ensuring necessary services like road infrastructure, water, and sewage systems are in place before issuing title deeds.
Soda clarified that Mnangagwa did not distribute title deeds during his campaign but rather deeds of grant, which are issued once key infrastructure developments are completed.
Critics argue that the government's use of land as a campaign tool is why 99-year leases have not been given to beneficiaries of the land reform program, keeping them as long-term tenants.
Source - newsdat
