Zimbabwe's title deeds affirms land reform programme

The issuance of title deeds to beneficiaries of Zimbabwe's Land Reform Programme has been hailed as a historic milestone, cementing the irreversibility of the initiative and unlocking significant value for indigenous people.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa made the announcement during his address on the 37th anniversary of Zimbabwe's Unity Day, emphasizing that this bold move would empower over 380,000 beneficiaries, further solidifying the legacy of the country's liberation struggle.

"The policies and programmes of the Second Republic are galvanising us all towards increased production and productivity, and propelling us to the realisation of Vision 2030," said President Mnangagwa. "Brick by brick, stone upon stone, and step by step, we are unapologetically marching forward."

The President highlighted the impact of the initiative, noting that it was crucial for reinforcing Zimbabwe's sovereignty, prosperity, and socio-economic development. He expressed pride in his administration's efforts to fulfill the constitutional right of every Zimbabwean citizen to hold and occupy agricultural land.

"This past week, we saw my administration concretize the obligation to give rights to every Zimbabwean citizen to hold and occupy agricultural land," he added. "Through this historic act, these new tenure documents will be issued to over 23,500 A2 farmers and over 360,000 A1 farmers."

The issuance of title deeds is part of the larger Land Tenure Implementation Programme, launched by President Mnangagwa at Pricabe Farm in Kwekwe. During the launch, ten farmers received their title deeds, symbolizing the start of the programme, which is set to benefit over 2,500 landowners by March 2025.

The programme aims to transition land currently held under 99-year leases, offer letters, and permits into bankable, registrable, and transferable titles. Over 10 million hectares of land have been distributed to over 366,000 beneficiaries since the Land Reform Programme began in 1980.

Professor Obert Jiri, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, highlighted that the goal is to convert offer letters and 99-year leases to deeds of transfer for 2,500 farms by March 2025.

"We have already distributed over 10 million hectares of land and surveyed 12,000 plots. By the end of January 2025, we plan to issue 250 more deeds of transfer, with 2,500 to follow by March 2025," he said.

The issuance of title deeds will provide farmers with the ability to use their land as collateral for loans, making it easier to access financing and enhancing overall productivity. With the Department of Deeds and Intellectual Property processing 1,000 title deeds per day, it is expected that all A1 and A2 offer letters and 99-year leases will be converted into deeds of transfer within 18 months.

"This initiative will unlock a lot of productivity for the farms, which otherwise could not move forward," said Dr. Herbert Murerwa, a former Cabinet Minister and one of the first recipients of a title deed. "With capital, farmers can now invest confidently, knowing they have security of tenure."

Mr. Lester Chizunza, a beneficiary from Headlands, expressed his excitement about the opportunities the title deed provides. "This milestone has given us an opportunity to maximize land use. Our economy is agro-based, and we are now in a better position to contribute to national food security and the growth of the economy," he said.

In line with efforts to ensure the continued sovereignty of Zimbabwean land, the programme will prohibit the transfer of land titles to non-nationals, safeguarding the nation's agricultural land for future generations.

The issuance of title deeds not only represents a monumental achievement for the beneficiaries but also signals a stronger future for Zimbabwe's agricultural sector, with far-reaching benefits for the country's economy and food security.