tawandamusarurwa
Emmanuel Kafe
IN 2000, Mrs Shamiso Dongondo (52), her husband and six children rented a three-roomed apartment in Highfield, Harare.
The year 2002 came with some challenges; it became increasingly difficult for the couple to pay rent and fend for their children.
They found a stand in Overspill, Epworth, where they quickly set up a wooden cabin before constructing a house of their own, which, however, was not properly documented.
While having a place of their own was supposed to be a relief, the family encountered unexpected challenges.
“Epworth was associated with crime and infamy. Applying for a job became a nightmare as companies were wary of employing people from here whenever I mentioned my place of residence. We were regarded as people of no fixed abode and as squatters. To compound all this, we lived in fear that our house would be deemed an illegal structure and be destroyed,” said Mrs Dongondo.
Fast-forward to 2023, under the stewardship of President Mnangagwa’s Second Republic, Mrs Dongondo and thousands of Epworth residents have been transformed from so-called squatters to bona fide homeowners.
President Mnangagwa last Saturday personally handed over 265 title deeds to Epworth residents, as part of 11 200 title deeds that have been prepared for homeowners in the area, under the Presidential Title Deeds and Settlement Regularisation Programme.
The target for Epworth is 38 000 title deeds, before the programme moves to Caledonia, where at least 29 000 are set to benefit.
Already, a master plan that outlines the location of schools, clinics, hospitals, and commercial and industrial sites has been developed to change the face of Epworth.
Regularisation of Epworth is set to transform the suburb, making it a residential area of choice.
For Mrs Dongondo, Government’s decision to issue title deeds to her was a pleasant surprise.
She said the title deed will enable her to develop her house and have the opportunity to empower herself by borrowing from banks.
“I received the title deed from President Mnangagwa and this was truly a dream come true. From now, I will be able to develop my piece of land without fear because I own it,” she said.
Mrs Dongondo described the title deed as an empowerment tool.
“We spent a lot of money in an endless struggle to acquire title deeds for many years without success. We have been struggling, but the President has lived up to the promise he made and we have been empowered.”
Another beneficiary of the title deeds, Mr Philip Mbaimbai, said he is proud to be a bona fide landowner.
“Now, I can live at my place in peace, knowing that no one can come and dispute that I am the owner. It is exciting that I can now approach banks and get loans with my title deed.
“My children were discriminated against in school just because they come from Epworth but it won’t be the same now. We will tell them that we are landlords and no one can undermine us anymore. This is truly the dawn of a new era for Epworth.”
The title deeds form part of a nationwide programme to secure property rights for homeowners in areas previously referred to as informal settlements.
Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Permanent Secretary Mrs Virginia Mabiza said the exercise was in line with the President’s vision of living no one and no place behind.
“The title deeds were given to people from all spheres of life, including women and persons with disabilities, as a way of empowering communities and also achieving inclusivity.
“There was no gender discrimination; all deserving parties had a chance of receiving their legal documents that show they now own their pieces of land,” she said, adding that those with queries should approach the deeds desk at their local board offices for further explanations.
She added that all the applications went through the Epworth Local Board before they were processed by an inter-ministerial task force set up to oversee issuance of the documents.
Some ill-informed individuals have taken to social media to discredit the title deeds, claiming the documents are not bankable.
However, Deeds, Companies and Intellectual Property Department chief registrar Mr Willie Mushayi dismissed the social media rumours.
“There are many types of title deeds. Both the deed of grant and deed of transfer are title deeds. A title deed is a legal document issued by the State, which gives ownership over a piece of land to an individual, conferring real rights over that property to that particular individual.
“A deed of grant refers to the first title issued by the State over previously unaligned land (State Land) to an individual from conferring ownership. Only the State can issue a deed of grant,” he said in an interview with this paper.
The Presidential Title Deeds and Settlement Regularisation Programme is set to be rolled out in other parts of the country.
Beneficiaries are not paying anything to get the title deeds. As a development partner, Kwangu Trust, is footing all the costs, including statutory ones.
Legal expert Advocate Raymond Pasipanodya said a deed of grant or a title deed forms the basis for a social and financial opportunity for beneficiaries.
“Title deeds are an important empowerment tool and a legal document that gives beneficiaries several rights, which include ownership and security of tenure, and disposal and transfer of ownership from one person to another. It also often provides the only acceptable proof of address required to access Government benefits, enrol children in school and open a bank account,” he said.
Bankers Association of Zimbabwe chief executive officer Mr Fanwell Mutogo said:
“Like any other title deed, the documents (Epworth Title Deeds) can be bankable, as long as they meet the requirements we look for like the value, size and location of the land. We also check if the documents have all necessary information from the Deeds Office and Government,” he said.
Online Reporter