Farmers urged to register unsurveyed farms for title deeds

The Land Tenure Implementation Committee (LTIC) has urged farmers whose properties have not yet been surveyed to register with the Ministry of Lands and Rural Development to enable them to qualify for title deeds under the Government's land tenure programme.

Speaking at a press conference in Harare on Wednesday, LTIC chairperson Happison Muchechetere said land must first be surveyed before title deeds can be issued.

He revealed that between 10,000 and 15,000 farms have already been fully surveyed and are currently being processed under the Government's title deeds programme.

Muchechetere said the committee's one-stop registration centre in Harare has been receiving large numbers of farmers seeking title deeds, but many are finding that their farms have not yet undergone the required survey.

"President Emmerson Mnangagwa launched the programme to push the final end of the land reform programme in Zimbabwe. Land reform cannot end without people getting their title deeds. So in his wisdom, he appointed a technical committee to look into this matter and we are here now seeing that our one-stop centre, which we had created for people to come and register, is now inundated by land owners from all corners of the country," he said.

"When most of them come, it is discovered that their farms have not been surveyed. We cannot issue one with title deeds on a farm that has not been surveyed. Therefore, what we want to appeal to prospective title deeds owners is that if their farms have not yet been surveyed, they must go to their nearest Ministry of Lands offices at district and provincial level and register. This will make it easier for the Government to know the number and district location of farms that have not been surveyed as well as quicken the whole process."

The title deeds programme is expected to benefit approximately 360,000 A1 farmers and 24,000 A2 farmers, providing them with secure land tenure and enabling them to invest more confidently in their farms.

Muchechetere also encouraged farmers to use provincial agricultural shows as registration points, saying LTIC officials will be available to assist farmers outside Harare with the registration process.

The LTIC is a 14-member technical committee comprising professionals from various disciplines and operates alongside a Cabinet Oversight Committee chaired by Minister of Defence and ZANU PF National Chairperson Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri.

Its structure also includes representatives of women, war veterans and youths to ensure broad participation in implementing the land tenure programme.

Government says the issuance of title deeds will improve farmers' access to finance by allowing them to use their land as collateral for loans to boost agricultural production, expand infrastructure and increase investment.

Over the next 20 years, the Government expects to raise nearly US$16 billion through land payments under the programme. The funds will be managed through a dedicated escrow account to enhance transparency and accountability.

Under the revenue-sharing framework, 22.5 percent of the funds will be used to compensate former commercial farmers in line with legal provisions, while the remainder will be directed towards reducing sovereign debt, improving infrastructure, financing agricultural lending and supporting war veterans and traditional leaders.