Online Reporter
Barbra Machekano-Herald Correspondent
IN December 2024, Zimbabwe launched a significant land tenure reform initiative aimed at securing title deeds for farmers across the country.
Spearheaded by President Mnangagwa, the Title Deeds Programme is a critical milestone in the country’s long journey of land reform, which has transformed the lives of many people who benefited from the programme that started in 2000.
As of now, more than 500 farmers have received their title deeds, with nearly 1 000 more in the pipeline.
Historical context
Land reform in Zimbabwe has a complex history rooted in colonial land policies that systematically disadvantaged the indigenous population.
The land redistribution process, which began in earnest in the early 2000s, aimed to rectify these injustices by redistributing land to landless blacks, from white former commercial farmers who held large tracts of land, while indigenous Zimbabweans were crammed on small and unproductive pieces of land.
Since 2000, a number of beneficiary farmers have struck the right chord and are now producing commendably, as evidenced by record breaking output in maize, wheat and tobacco, in the last few years.
Realising this surge in production, the Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa, recognised the need to provide farmers with secure tenure rights.
Launch of Title Deeds Programme
The new Land Title Deeds Programme was inaugurated on December 20, 2024, at a ceremony attended by various stakeholders, including Government officials, agricultural representatives, and international observers.
The decision to launch the title deeds programme now represents a pivotal turning point in the country’s agricultural sector.
Permanent Secretary for Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Professor Obert Jiri says the programme is designed to offer physical title deeds to land beneficiaries.
The initiative is an essential element for enhancing security of tenure and promoting agricultural activity. Prof Jiri has indicated that over 500 title deeds have already been issued, while an additional 1 000 are undergoing processing. The Government’s ability to distribute these deeds reflect a significant shift from past practices that often delayed or obstructed access to land ownership.
Lessons learnt during the programme’s formative stages in 2025 had enabled authorities to streamline procedures, allowing beneficiaries paying cash to receive their title deeds within three days, while those opting for mortgage financing were now being smoothly accommodated after banks addressed initial operational challenges.
Prof Jiri revealed that 7 756 farms had already been unlocked after completing surveying requirements, with a further 6 000 farms expected to be cleared before the end of the month, signalling a major breakthrough in clearing historical bottlenecks related to land administration.
He said the surveying process, which had previously slowed down implementation, has now been fully smoothened, allowing the programme to move forward without delays.
Small-scale farmers under the A1 and A2 resettlement models, including those affected by succession and survey complications, had also been fully accommodated, clearing the way for deeds of grant to be issued. The programme now covers all eligible categories, including former white commercial farmers who remained on their land, unoccupied Bilateral Investment Protection and Promotion Agreements (BIPPA) farms and beneficiaries whose land had already been surveyed, with all qualifying farmers free to approach authorities to obtain their deeds.
Major milestone
Prof Jiri said a major milestone has been the growing acceptance of the title deeds by the financial sector, a development critical to unlocking agricultural finance.
In this regard, the Government is now working with five banks that have embraced the programme, following the resolution of concerns around bankability and transferability of the title deeds.
These banks are not only offering mortgage facilities, but have also established a physical presence at the Harare One-Stop Centre, allowing farmers to complete title and mortgage processes under one roof, a move described as a clear demonstration of confidence and commitment to the programme.
Prof Jiri added that more banks are expected to come on board through continued engagement with the Bankers Association of Zimbabwe.
But he sternly warned against scammers posing as officials, saying the Government has noted with concern reports of farmers being swindled by individuals falsely claiming to facilitate access to title deeds.
The programme is administered strictly by the Land Tenure Implementation Committee, working only with the Ministries of Lands, Finance, Justice and Local Government, and no payments were made at farm level.
The only administrative fee involved is a US$10 charge payable during the agreement of sale stage, while survey and conveyancing costs are already built into the total land price.
Prof Jiri has urged farmers to remain vigilant and to verify all information through official toll-free numbers available at the One-Stop Centre, which operates on a 24-hour basis, warning that any demands for payment outside the cash system or the mortgage route through banks are fraudulent.
The title deeds programme is central to transforming agriculture into a fully-fledged business sector by unlocking capital, productivity and generational wealth.
Secure land tenure is the surest way to unlock production and productivity at farm level, explained Prof Jiri, noting that the Presidential Productivity Booster Programme has already demonstrated how access to secure tenure and finance could translate into resilient and well-capitalised farming operations.
Beyond the current generation, the title deeds will create lasting generational wealth by providing authority, security and the ability to leverage land for development.
The programme has marked a decisive milestone in consolidating land reform gains and anchoring agriculture as a cornerstone of the country’s economic growth.
The author, Barbra Machekano, is the Director Communications and Advocacy in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development.
