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Zimbabwean women make gains in property ownership
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Women in Zimbabwe are making significant strides in securing access to economic resources such as land, property, and digital financial services, according to findings from the 2023–2024 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) released by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat).
The survey, which focused on women aged 15 to 49, reveals an encouraging shift in the economic participation of women, long disadvantaged by structural inequalities and social norms. While men continue to dominate in ownership of productive assets, the latest data indicates that more women are now owning houses and land, as well as engaging in mobile-based financial transactions.
According to the DHS, 32 percent of women aged 15–49 own a house, either individually or jointly, while 24 percent own land. However, only 2 percent of these women own land independently, with 22 percent holding joint ownership. The report emphasises that property ownership remains a critical pillar of women's financial security, influencing their bargaining power, access to credit, and ability to plan for the future.
Despite the growing number of female property owners, a persistent gender gap remains when it comes to formal documentation. Among those who have a title deed, 25 percent of men have their names listed on the document compared to only 18 percent of women. In land ownership, 24 percent of men have their names on deeds, compared to just 12 percent of women. This gap suggests that formalisation of property rights is lagging behind ownership trends, putting many women in a vulnerable legal position.
Interestingly, rural women appear to be faring better than their urban counterparts in property ownership. The DHS notes that 45 percent of rural women own houses, either alone or jointly, compared to just 17 percent of women in urban areas. In terms of land ownership, 38 percent of rural women report owning land, compared to only 8 percent of urban women. Experts suggest that traditional communal systems may provide rural women with better access to family land and housing, while urban property markets tend to favour men.
Nonetheless, the challenge of informal ownership persists across the board. Among all respondents who own a house, 70 percent of women and 72 percent of men report not having formal documentation or a title deed. This widespread lack of official ownership rights highlights the need for nationwide efforts to formalise property ownership and protect citizens' rights.
Commenting on the findings, Tendai Chikowore, a gender rights advocate and founder of the Harare-based Women's Futures, said land and house ownership represent the most tangible form of economic security for Zimbabwean women. She noted that women who lack formal ownership documents are exposed to displacement and often excluded from formal credit systems.
"Ownership gives women collateral, bargaining power within the household, and the psychological confidence to pursue entrepreneurship," Chikowore said. "But without their names on the title deed, they remain vulnerable. Formal recognition of their rights must be prioritised to allow real shifts in household decision-making and intergenerational wealth transfer."
The DHS also highlights the growing role of the digital economy in women's financial empowerment. Mobile phone ownership is now nearly universal among young Zimbabweans, with 79 percent of women and 80 percent of men aged 15 to 49 owning mobile phones. Additionally, 58 percent of both women and men reported owning smartphones.
Mobile-based financial inclusion is also on the rise. In the 12 months leading up to the survey, 46 percent of both men and women used a mobile phone to conduct financial transactions. However, a gender gap persists in formal banking. Only 16 percent of women aged 15 to 49 reported having and using a bank account, compared to 24 percent of men. Urban women are significantly more likely to use bank accounts than those in rural areas, with 23 percent of urban women reporting usage compared to just 10 percent of rural women.
Men follow a similar urban-rural divide, with 40 percent of urban men using bank accounts compared to 13 percent in rural areas. These figures point to continuing structural and geographic barriers in accessing formal financial institutions, despite the availability of mobile money platforms.
Banking expert Raymond Madziva said the rise of mobile money services could transform the economic prospects of women, especially in rural and informal sectors. He noted that mobile platforms provide low-barrier access to transactions, savings, and microcredit opportunities for women who are often turned away at traditional banks.
"Mobile-money platforms are a game-changer for women entrepreneurs who face discrimination at bank counters. With a mobile phone, even the smallest market trader can build a transaction history and eventually access loans," he said.
Overall, the DHS 2023–2024 paints a mixed but hopeful picture. Women in Zimbabwe are increasingly taking ownership of homes, land, and financial tools, inching toward greater economic autonomy. However, the path forward requires continued efforts to close gender gaps in formal property rights, expand access to inclusive financial products, and ensure that the gains women are making are legally and structurally protected.
The survey, which focused on women aged 15 to 49, reveals an encouraging shift in the economic participation of women, long disadvantaged by structural inequalities and social norms. While men continue to dominate in ownership of productive assets, the latest data indicates that more women are now owning houses and land, as well as engaging in mobile-based financial transactions.
According to the DHS, 32 percent of women aged 15–49 own a house, either individually or jointly, while 24 percent own land. However, only 2 percent of these women own land independently, with 22 percent holding joint ownership. The report emphasises that property ownership remains a critical pillar of women's financial security, influencing their bargaining power, access to credit, and ability to plan for the future.
Despite the growing number of female property owners, a persistent gender gap remains when it comes to formal documentation. Among those who have a title deed, 25 percent of men have their names listed on the document compared to only 18 percent of women. In land ownership, 24 percent of men have their names on deeds, compared to just 12 percent of women. This gap suggests that formalisation of property rights is lagging behind ownership trends, putting many women in a vulnerable legal position.
Interestingly, rural women appear to be faring better than their urban counterparts in property ownership. The DHS notes that 45 percent of rural women own houses, either alone or jointly, compared to just 17 percent of women in urban areas. In terms of land ownership, 38 percent of rural women report owning land, compared to only 8 percent of urban women. Experts suggest that traditional communal systems may provide rural women with better access to family land and housing, while urban property markets tend to favour men.
Nonetheless, the challenge of informal ownership persists across the board. Among all respondents who own a house, 70 percent of women and 72 percent of men report not having formal documentation or a title deed. This widespread lack of official ownership rights highlights the need for nationwide efforts to formalise property ownership and protect citizens' rights.
Commenting on the findings, Tendai Chikowore, a gender rights advocate and founder of the Harare-based Women's Futures, said land and house ownership represent the most tangible form of economic security for Zimbabwean women. She noted that women who lack formal ownership documents are exposed to displacement and often excluded from formal credit systems.
"Ownership gives women collateral, bargaining power within the household, and the psychological confidence to pursue entrepreneurship," Chikowore said. "But without their names on the title deed, they remain vulnerable. Formal recognition of their rights must be prioritised to allow real shifts in household decision-making and intergenerational wealth transfer."
The DHS also highlights the growing role of the digital economy in women's financial empowerment. Mobile phone ownership is now nearly universal among young Zimbabweans, with 79 percent of women and 80 percent of men aged 15 to 49 owning mobile phones. Additionally, 58 percent of both women and men reported owning smartphones.
Mobile-based financial inclusion is also on the rise. In the 12 months leading up to the survey, 46 percent of both men and women used a mobile phone to conduct financial transactions. However, a gender gap persists in formal banking. Only 16 percent of women aged 15 to 49 reported having and using a bank account, compared to 24 percent of men. Urban women are significantly more likely to use bank accounts than those in rural areas, with 23 percent of urban women reporting usage compared to just 10 percent of rural women.
Men follow a similar urban-rural divide, with 40 percent of urban men using bank accounts compared to 13 percent in rural areas. These figures point to continuing structural and geographic barriers in accessing formal financial institutions, despite the availability of mobile money platforms.
Banking expert Raymond Madziva said the rise of mobile money services could transform the economic prospects of women, especially in rural and informal sectors. He noted that mobile platforms provide low-barrier access to transactions, savings, and microcredit opportunities for women who are often turned away at traditional banks.
"Mobile-money platforms are a game-changer for women entrepreneurs who face discrimination at bank counters. With a mobile phone, even the smallest market trader can build a transaction history and eventually access loans," he said.
Overall, the DHS 2023–2024 paints a mixed but hopeful picture. Women in Zimbabwe are increasingly taking ownership of homes, land, and financial tools, inching toward greater economic autonomy. However, the path forward requires continued efforts to close gender gaps in formal property rights, expand access to inclusive financial products, and ensure that the gains women are making are legally and structurally protected.
Source - Sunday Mail
