Online Reporter
Dr Anxious Masuka
The Government of Zimbabwe implemented the Land Reform Programme in three phases since independence.
Phase One covered the period between 1980 and 1997, and saw 76 000 households being resettled.
The inception of Phase Two covered the period between 1998 and June 2000, and saw 4 800 households being resettled.
Then there was the Phase Two fast-track programme, which started in July 2000 and saw 24 000 farmers allocated land under model A2, whilst 240 000 were allocated under model A1.
Tenure
The Government has been engaging financial institutions to improve tenure documents for resettled farmers so that they become bankable.
The key issues that needed addressing are that of registration, bankability and transferability. Various consultations were held to address these matters.
This led to a Cabinet announcement on October 8, 2024 that the Government had 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.
The President issued a comprehensive statement in this regard.
This process is being coordinated by the Office of the President and Cabinet, with two committees put in place to superintend over the programme. We have the Cabinet Oversight Committee that is chaired by Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri; and the Land Tenure Implementation Committee (LTIC), chaired by Mr Kudakwashe Tagwirei.
The President then launched the issuance of title deeds on December 20, 2024 in Kwekwe, with 10 farmers receiving their title deeds.
Farmers are being issued with 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.
All the resettled farmers should be issued with title deeds by June 30, 2026.
Processing
The estimations are that 24 000 A2 farmers have to be given title deeds, with between 12 000 and 13 000 of those on surveyed land units. The balance needs surveying.
In total, 360 000 A1 farmers are supposed to get title deeds. All these farms have not been surveyed.
The Government has engaged the private sector to enhance surveying of farms, and has embraced the use of modern technology to expedite the work. With regard to specific duties given to my ministry, we were instructed to set up a one-stop centre.
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)
Financing models
Currently, there are three options for the purchase of the farms:
- Cash option: Where the farmer can pay full purchase price within 90 days. There is a 15 percent discount for this option. Title deed is processed after farmer is fully paid up.
- Credit facility: Where the farmer pays full purchase price within 12 months. The farmer will be referred to the bank. The Government will give a 5 percent rebate after payment of full purchase price. Title deed will be processed after full payment is done.
- Mortgage facility: The farmer is advanced funds by the bank. This is paid to the Government. The farmer then pays back the loan to the bank. There is a 7,5 percent interest rate per annum and maximum tenure is 20 years. Title deed is processed as soon as the bank pays the Government and the deed is endorsed with the mortgage and given to the bank.
The Government has engaged five banks under this programme — AFC, CBZ, FBC, POSB and ZB.
These financial institutions are setting up offices at the one-stop centre.
Other farmers
There are other farmers who also want to benefit from the title deeds programme:
- Small-scale commercial farming areas: Farmers in this category were allocated State land long back, initially on offer; then short-term lease and 99-year lease with option to purchase; then title deeds.
Those without title deeds will get their deeds of grant.
- Indigenous former farm owners: Some indigenous farmers had their farms acquired by the Government but not resettled or partially settled. Previously, Statutory Instrument 62 of 2020 had been put in place to address these farmers’ matters.
They are now getting their title deeds back by the uplifting of endorsements where there are no settlements.
For those partially settled, they will get a deed of transfer on the remaining portion.
Also, BIPPA (Bilateral Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement) farms gazetted but not settled will have endorsements uplifted.
In total, 32 model A2 cash farmers have been issued with title deeds, while 202 have gone for the mortgage system.
An additional 1 000 model A1 farmers in Mashonaland Central province were issued with title deeds on August 25, 2025.
Dr Anxious Masuka is the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development. He delivered this Ministerial Statement in the National Assembly recently.
