Online Reporter
Edgar Vhera, Specialist Writer
THE Government has confirmed that farmers who bought land at the advent of independence will not be excluded from the ongoing title deeds programme saying they also needed to be empowered.
This follows complaints from a small-scale farmer from Jena/Gota farm in Guruve who said he had wanted to be part of the Government’s title deed programme but had been told that there were no plans to print title deeds for farmers who bought farms (commonly known as Matenganyika) at independence.
“Having completed all requirements including doing the very expensive process of surveying, as well as paying for the final printing five months ago, the response we get every time is that there is no programme to print title deeds,” he said.
Some of the Matenganyika farms are Zviyambe, Chitomborwizi, Chesa, Chitowa, Nyakapupu, Gota, Karuyana, Nyazvidzi, Nyanyadzi, Makoholi, Nyamuzizi and Marirangwe.
However, stakeholder subcommittee on land tenure chairperson, Mr Happison Muchechetere said Matenganyika/self-contained farmers were included in the title deeds programme.
“They are a central part of this initiative and the facts are that Matenganyika settlements (covering farm, homestead, and grazing land) are treated the same as A1 and A2 farmers.
“No one is being left behind,” he said.
Mr Muchechetere said the Land Tenure Implementation Committee (LTIC) was responsible for overseeing the issuance of title deeds for all agricultural and urban land.
“We would like to assure all concerned farmers that the programme aims to include everyone and the LTIC was working flat out to rectify things causing delays.
“While some title deed processes have been delayed for various reasons, this is not exclusion, the programme is now progressing at full speed after overcoming some initial internal hurdles,” he added.
Farmers seeking title deeds are encouraged to visit the established one-stop-centre to get their title deeds.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister, Dr Anxious Masuka recently disclosed that the LTIC established a one-stop centre at the Makombe Complex to ease the process for farmers.
The centre has seven workstations, which are: Station 1 — Verification of farmer’s tenure documents, Station 2 — Zimbabwe Land Commission clears land disputes; Station 3 — Surveyor-General confirms survey status; Station 4 — Receipting of processing fees of US$10 and purchase price when paid, Station 5 — Completion of the title deed data form; Station 6 — Determination of the purchase price and Station 7 — Conveyancing (Agreements preparation and signing).
“Farmers in the small-scale commercial farming category who were allocated State land long back, initially on offer; then short-term lease and 99-year lease with option to purchase are also benefiting from the title deeds programme,” he said.
Minister Masuka said some indigenous farmers who had their farms acquired by the Government but not resettled or partially settled were now getting their title deeds back by the uplifting of endorsements where there are no settlements while for those partially settled, would get a deed of transfer on the remaining portion.
Government has adopted a new land tenure regime, in line with Section 292 — read together with Sections 289, 293 and 294 — of the Constitution that obligates the State to give security of tenure to every person to alienate for value addition land, among other requirements. This process is being co-ordinated by the Office of the President and Cabinet, with the Cabinet Oversight Committee and LTIC put in place to superintend over the programme.
The President launched the issuance of title deeds on December 20, 2024 in Kwekwe, with 10 farmers receiving their title deeds during the occasion. Another 1 000 AI farmers were given title deeds in Mazowe.
Farmers are getting deeds of transfer, which bestow private ownership and full land rights to the beneficiary.
All land reform beneficiaries with valid tenure documents qualify for issuance of title deeds.
An estimated 24 000 A2 and 360 000 A1 farmers are expected to get title deeds. The Government has engaged the private sector to enhance surveying of farms and has since embraced the use of modern technology to expedite the work.
