malvernmugadzikwa
Sunday Mail Reporter
OVER 13 000 farms have been surveyed and deemed eligible to receive title deeds under the Land Tenure Implementation Programme launched by President Mnangagwa in December last year.
The programme seeks to empower farmers by providing secure land ownership while enhancing agricultural productivity.
During the launch of the initiative at Pricabe Farm in Kwekwe, 10 farmers were issued with title deeds, marking the commencement of the historic programme geared towards enhancing security of tenure and unlocking the inherent value of agricultural land.
It is envisaged that about 23 500 tenure documents will be issued to all A2 farmers by June next year.
This will be followed by the issuance of title deeds to 360 000 A1 farmers.
By March 31, the Government aims to issue 2 500 title deeds as part of the ongoing rollout.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Professor Obert Jiri said the programme was a cornerstone of Government efforts to empower farmers and stimulate agricultural growth.
“By securing land ownership, farmers will be able to utilise their land as collateral for loans and investments, unlocking new opportunities for development and increasing agricultural productivity,” he said.
“Over 13 000 surveyed farms are now eligible for title deeds.
“Farmers are inquiring, and we are working diligently to process their applications, and we are expecting to issue 2 500 titles by March 31.”
To facilitate the programme, the Government has finalised arrangements with local financial institutions to offer mortgages to applicants to purchase agricultural land from the Government.
Under the new framework, farmers will have access to generous terms for purchasing land, with pricing linked to agro-ecological regions.
Land in Regions One and Two, known for higher rainfall, will cost more per hectare compared to land in drier areas like Region Five.
Additional factors such as proximity to towns, land improvements and water resources will also influence valuations.
“Banks are on board,” added Prof Jiri.
“Farmers who cannot pay the full purchase price upfront will have their deeds automatically mortgaged with the bank of their choice.”
The programme, spearheaded by the Land Tenure Implementation Committee, aims to solidify the “irreversibility of land reform” by ensuring that land becomes bankable, registrable and transferable, he said.
This will enable farmers to use their land as collateral to access loans and other financial services.
Farmers holding 99-year leases, offer letters and permits are all eligible to benefit from the programme, which is also designed to limit foreign ownership of agricultural land and maintain Zimbabwean control over this critical resource.
Process
Prof Jiri said, as part of the application process, a farmer will be required to complete a data collection form at their local district office and submit it to the district estates officer.
The district estates officer then verifies the authenticity of the documents, including the validity of the submitted tenure document — a lease or permit — and farm survey documentation.
If the farm is not surveyed, a request for a survey is then made.
The application and accompanying documentation are then forwarded to the provincial estates officer, who verifies all the information submitted by the farmer before forwarding the data to the provincial land officer for recommendation.
The farmer’s data forms are then sent to the director of land development and administration in the Ministry of Lands, before being further transmitted to the Zimbabwe Land Commission for farm dispute resolution as per the commission’s land audit report.
The verified data forms are later returned to the Department of Lands for further processing.
Valuation and estate officers will then generate, on a weekly basis, a schedule of verified beneficiaries and apply for the minister’s authority to issue the title deeds.
Upon approval, valuation of the land is then conducted by the valuation and estate officers to determine the purchase price.
A valuation report is then prepared for approval by the deputy director of valuations and estates in the ministry.
The applicant is then advised of the purchase price.
Later, the valuation and estates officer forwards the farmers file to the conveyancer for processing of a declaration by the purchaser, an agreement of sale, special power of attorney and consent to cancel the farmer’s lease, where applicable.
At this stage, the applicant will be required to declare in the agreement of sale document whether they intend to purchase through a cash payment or through a bank mortgage.
After full payment of the purchase price, a title deed is issued to the applicant upon presentation of a clearance certificate from the ministry.
A copy of the deed is retained by the Deeds Registry, while mortgaged deeds are kept by the respective banks until full payment has been made.
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