By Archford Chirimudombo
Harare, (New Ziana) – The Land Tenure Implementation Committee (LTIC) has urged farmers to register their properties with the Ministry of Lands and Rural Development for surveying in order to be issued with title deeds.
LTIC chairperson Happison Muchechetere told a press conference held in Harare on Wednesday that title deeds cannot be issued for land that has not gone through the surveying process.
Muchechetere said between 10 000 and 15 000 farms across the country have already been fully surveyed and are currently being processed under the Government title deeds program.
He said the committee’s one-stop registration centre in Harare continues to receive large numbers of farmers seeking title deeds, only for many to discover that their farms have not yet been surveyed.
“President Emmerson Mnangagwa launched the program to push the final end of the land reform program 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.
“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,” he said.
The initiative is expected to benefit about 360 000 A1 farmers and 24 000 A2 farmers, providing them with secure land tenure and greater opportunities to invest in their properties.
Muchechetere also encouraged farmers to take advantage of provincial agricultural shows, where LTIC officials will be stationed to assist with registrations, saying the outreach initiative is intended to make the process more accessible to farmers outside Harare.
The LTIC is a 14-member body made up of professionals drawn from various fields and operates alongside a Cabinet Oversight Committee chaired by Minister of Defence and Zanu PF National Chairperson Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri.
Its broader structure includes representatives of women, war veterans and youths in an effort to ensure broad national participation in the implementation of the program.
The title deeds program is expected to unlock access to finance by enabling farmers to use their land as collateral for loans to improve agricultural production, develop infrastructure and expand investment on their farms.
Over the next 20 years, the government expects to raise nearly US$16 billion through land payments, with the funds to be managed through a dedicated escrow account to promote transparency and accountability.
Under the arrangement, 22.5 percent of the revenue will be used to compensate former commercial farmers in line with legal provisions, while the remainder will go towards reducing sovereign debt, upgrading infrastructure, financing agricultural lending and supporting war veterans and traditional leaders.
New Ziana
