Tagwirei to lead Masvingo land tenure forum

Chairperson of the Land Tenure System Implementation Committee, Kudakwashe Tagwirei, is set to headline a pivotal land tenure forum at Masvingo Polytechnic College this Friday, as the government steps up efforts to win public trust over its new land reforms.

The forum comes under the banner of the Land Tenure Implementation Programme, which was officially launched in 2024. Central to the initiative is the introduction of a bankable title deed system aimed at empowering farmers with secure land ownership documents, enabling them to access loans and formalize investments on their land.

Despite its promises, the programme has been met with hesitation in farming communities. Many farmers have expressed concern that the policy may mask an agenda to reclaim or redistribute land, echoing past episodes of land uncertainty.

The forum seeks to clarify the Government's intentions and reassure the public, particularly in Masvingo Province, where uptake of the programme has been slow. Organizers say it will serve as a platform for residents to air concerns, ask questions, and understand how the title deed programme will affect them.

Also expected to address attendees are Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister Ezra Chadzamira and ICT Minister Tatenda Mavetera, alongside experts from the Ministry of Lands and Agrarian Reform.

As pressure mounts on the state to restore confidence in land ownership policies, Friday's forum could prove crucial in shifting public perception and charting a new chapter for Zimbabwe's land economy.

Could this be a turning point for land reform  -  or yet another contentious chapter? Eyes will be on Masvingo for the answers.