MPs clash over cost of title deed digitalisation exercise

A debate in Parliament on Zimbabwe's ongoing title deed validation and securitisation programme turned tense after the Justice Minister dismissed concerns raised over the affordability and accessibility of the exercise.

Bulawayo North MP Minenhle Gumede raised a point of national interest, warning that the costs associated with the Digital Land Administration platform could place an additional burden on ordinary citizens.

She said while the initiative aimed at strengthening property rights and improving land records was commendable, there were growing concerns that many Zimbabweans could be excluded due to financial constraints.

"The objective of strengthening property rights, improving the integrity of land records and protecting citizens from land fraud is both commendable and necessary," she said.

However, Gumede cautioned that reported costs of around US$200 for conveyancing services, excluding VAT and other administrative charges, could be unaffordable for pensioners, civil servants, widows and low-income households.

"A programme intended to secure citizens' property rights should not inadvertently become a source of financial hardship, uncertainty or exclusion for the very people it seeks to protect," she said.

She also raised concerns about the implementation timeline under Statutory Instrument 76 of 2025, which requires property owners to complete validation and securitisation by July 18, 2027.

Gumede argued that limited decentralisation of services could disadvantage residents in rural areas and other provinces, who may face additional travel and accommodation costs to access the process.

She further called for clarity on how vulnerable groups would be supported to ensure that no citizen loses property rights due to inability to afford or access the system.

"In essence, what safeguards exist to ensure that no citizen loses, compromises or is deprived of their property rights solely due to the inability to afford or access the validation process?" she asked.

In response, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi dismissed the matter as unsuitable for debate in the House, saying it did not qualify as a point of national interest and was too technical for plenary discussion.

He suggested that the issue would be better handled through a parliamentary committee inquiry involving officials from the relevant departments.

"While I respect what you have said, that was not a point of national interest," Ziyambi said.

"Perhaps what she could have done was to ask a question or request the committee because there are lots of technical details that are required."

The minister added that Parliament sitting in plenary was not the appropriate forum to interrogate detailed administrative aspects of the digital land reform process.

"Parliament in session here is not supposed to deal with the details that she is asking," he said.

Ziyambi proposed that the relevant committee summon senior officials, including the Permanent Secretary and Chief Registrar, to provide a full technical briefing.

He further argued that a ministerial statement alone would not adequately address the complexity of the issue, saying committee scrutiny would allow for a more comprehensive examination of the programme.

The exchange highlights growing parliamentary scrutiny over Zimbabwe's digital land administration reforms, which aim to modernise property records but have raised concerns about cost, accessibility and implementation capacity.