Harare, (New Ziana) – Cabinet has approved the adoption of the ‘User Pays Principle’ to guide compensation and regularization of Government housing projects established on privately-owned land and urban State land, in a move aimed at ensuring fairness, security of tenure and orderly urban development.
Announcing the development at a post-Cabinet media briefing on Tuesday, the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr. Jenfan Muswere, said beneficiaries of the Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle Programme will now be required to pay the full development costs of the land they occupy.
Under the new arrangement, payments will cover the value of the land, servicing costs, and all related development expenses, while the Government facilitates negotiations between landowners and beneficiaries to ensure a transparent and mutually beneficial process.
Dr. Muswere highlighted that this initiative will allow residents to purchase land directly from landowners over an agreed period, formalizing ownership and ensuring security of tenure.
“One such example is the 1 065.7-hectare Whitecliff Farm in Harare, where 11 000 families are settled. Government and Eddies Pfugari Estate agreed on US$44 million as compensation for the land,” Dr. Muswere revealed.
He said the adoption of the User Pays Principle brings several long-term benefits, including Security of tenure through the issuance of title deeds under the Presidential Title Deeds Programme, thereby adding value to properties; Access to basic services such as water, roads, and electricity; Development of properly planned settlements with reduced disorder and crime; and Increased revenue generation for Government and local authorities through rates and levies paid by property owners.
The policy will also strengthen urban governance by enabling the enforcement of planning regulations and orderly settlement patterns.
Dr. Muswere added that the model will be replicated across all areas where Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle beneficiaries built homes on private land or where regularization processes have revealed illegal settlements on privately-owned or State land.
“An Inter-Ministerial Committee will oversee the implementation of the project to ensure that all stakeholders – landowners, beneficiaries and local authorities – are adequately represented and that the process runs efficiently,” said Dr. Muswere.
The User Pays Principle is expected to resolve long-standing land ownership disputes stemming from the Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle housing programme, launched in the aftermath of Operation Murambatsvina in 2005, which sought to provide housing for displaced urban residents.
By introducing this principle, the Government aims to restore order, promote accountability, and empower homeowners through legitimate ownership, paving the way for sustainable urban development in line with the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) and Vision 2030 goals.
New Ziana
