Online Reporter
Kuda Bwititi-Zimpapers Politics Hub
FOR over two decades, a fundamental question has hovered over Zimbabwe’s revolutionary Land Reform Programme: what comes after the redistribution? While the historic transfer of land corrected a grave colonial injustice, the absence of secure, bankable ownership for hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries created a lingering gap between possession and true economic empowerment.
That gap is now being decisively bridged. The Government is poised to issue title deeds to over 13 000 A2 farmers whose land has been surveyed, marking a critical and transformative phase in the programme’s evolution. This move, stemming from the land tenure system officially launched by President Mnangagwa in December 2024, signals a strategic shift from land acquisition to land capitalisation, with profound implications for national food security, economic stability and rural development.
Unlocking the dead capital
The challenge has been stark. Without a formal title, a farm is not an asset, but a holding. It cannot be used as collateral for loans to purchase irrigation equipment, high-yield seeds, or modern machinery. Farmers have been understandably hesitant to invest heavily in permanent infrastructure on land whose long-term tenure felt conditional. This “dead capital” in the fields stifled productivity, innovation and confidence.
“During 2025, we managed to deliver more than 500 physical title deeds to farmers,” revealed Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Permanent Secretary Professor Obert Jiri this week. While this initial figure may seem modest, it represents the crucial pilot phase. The pipeline is now flowing. With 13 000 A2 farms surveyed and 7 756 already meticulously linked to the rightful beneficiaries, the administrative machinery is moving into higher gear.
“These farmers can now come at any time as we are actively calling them to ensure that they receive their title deeds as quickly as possible,” Prof Jiri said. This is not a passive process but a proactive, state-driven initiative to formalise ownership.
A dual-track approach: A2 Momentum and A1 Foundations
The programme operates on a dual track, recognising the different scales and models of the reform. The A2 model, comprising larger commercial plots, is the current focus for bulk titling, given its more defined boundaries and smaller beneficiary pool of about 23,000 nationwide. The progress here is tangible and accelerating.
For the vast A1 sector, encompassing over 280 000 smallholder farmers, the process is inherently more complex but equally vital. Progress, while slower, is underway. Over 400 title deeds have been processed in Mashonaland Central Province alone, serving as a critical test case. The strategy here is innovative and integrated. The Government is bundling the title deed process with the “Productivity Booster Kit,” which includes essential irrigation infrastructure. This dual offering is astute as it provides not only the legal security to invest but also the immediate physical means to do so, creating a powerful incentive for formalisation and directly attacking low yields.
Perhaps the most significant innovation is the structured financial pathway accompanying the titles. The Government has strategically partnered with six major financial institutions—POSB, CBZ, AFC, FBC, and ZB—to offer 20-year mortgage facilities. This moves the process beyond a simple administrative exchange of documents.
“Initially, the majority of payments were cash-based, but we now also have mortgage arrangements in place, and the process is moving well,” noted Prof Jiri. This transition is crucial. It integrates reformed agriculture into the formal financial system, allowing farmers to leverage their asset responsibly. It also provides banks with a new class of credible, collateral-backed borrowers, potentially unlocking billions in dormant credit for the agricultural sector. The title deed, therefore, becomes a key that opens the vault of formal finance.
Streamlining access and upholding law
To ensure inclusivity and efficiency, the application process has been decentralised and digitised. Farmers can now submit initial data forms digitally, only requiring a physical presence for the final signing—a nod to both modern convenience and the realities of rural life.
“Anyone with a piece of land can apply for a title deed, provided their offer letters or land payments are verified,” Prof Jiri clarified, importantly adding that this includes long-standing leaseholders, such as white former commercial farmers who remained on their land under agreed terms. This inclusive approach underscores that the programme is about cementing productive use and tenure security for all compliant farmers, regardless of background.
However, this formalisation drive is firmly anchored in the law. Prof Jiri issued a stern warning against illegal land transactions and the unauthorised parcelling of communal land. The message is clear in that while the State is empowering legitimate beneficiaries, it retains ultimate authority over land allocation. This is essential to prevent chaos, protect communal assets and ensure the programme benefits its intended recipients.
Simultaneously, the Government continues to methodically address the compensation question, a key aspect of bringing finality to the land issue. The dedicated allocation of 10 percent of the national budget annually towards compensating former white commercial farmers for improvements on the land is a policy that has garnered international recognition. It demonstrates a commitment to the rule of law and bilateral agreements, improving the investment climate even as sovereign ownership of the land itself remains non-negotiable.
Seeding a new agric economy
The strategic importance of this titling programme cannot be overstated. It is the logical culmination of the Land Reform Programme, transforming a political asset into an economic one. For the farmer, it means security, access to credit, and the freedom to plan inter-generationally. For the banking sector, it represents a new, large-scale asset class. For the Government, it is a tool to dramatically boost agricultural productivity—the cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s economic ambitions.
As Prof Jiri indicated, farmers should expect a significant acceleration in title deed issuance through 2026. When completed, this process will have created one of the largest new propertied classes in the region’s recent history. It has the potential to catalyse a green revolution from within, driven by farmers who are now, truly, owners of their land and architects of their future. The harvest from this policy, if diligently implemented, will be measured not just in tonnes of grain, but in stability, prosperity and the full realisation of the land reform’s empowering promise.
