Trust Freddy-Herald Correspondent
GOVERNMENT has assured citizens that no one will lose their home or land for failing to validate their title deed within the 24-month window, however failing to do so means one will not be able to sell, transfer or borrow against their property.
Addressing National Real Estate Day celebrations held in Harare yesterday, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said an unvalidated paper deed remains a valid legal instrument.
However, he said, once the deadline passes, the deed cannot be used to sell or transfer property, or to secure a bank loan, until it is validated.
“An unvalidated paper deed remains a valid legal instrument. However, once the deadline has passed, it cannot be used to sell or transfer property until it is validated,” Minister Ziyambi said. “We are not going to tamper with your property, but when you want to go to the bank to secure a loan, the bank will say you must ensure that your deed has been validated.”
The validation, digitisation and re-issuance of title deeds is being carried out under the Deeds Registry Regulations of 2025, Statutory Instrument 76 of 2025, together with the Presidential Title Deeds Programme.
Minister Ziyambi said replacing ordinary paper records with tamper-proof, digitised, securitised deeds restores confidence in property ownership and allows citizens to use their properties as collateral to access credit.
He said the validation fee is pegged at an all-inclusive US$215, covering registration fees, conveyancing fees and related charges.
“Poverty shall never be a barrier to tenure security. Where a citizen cannot afford it, we will step in with a system to assist them,” Minister Ziyambi said.
The event brought together the Real Estate Institute of Zimbabwe (REIZ), the Estate Agents Council of Zimbabwe, the Valuers Council, and the Deeds Office under the theme, “Celebrating People, Profession and Progress in Real Estate.”
Minister Ziyambi also announced that Government has exempted newly constructed residential rental dwellings from rent and price controls for 25 years.
The exemption is contained in the Rent Regulations Amendment Regulations of 2026 (No. 2), Statutory Instrument 131 of 2026.
It applies to developments duly registered with the Rent Board.
“By permitting market-based rentals for 25 years and aligning lease agreements with any legally recognised currency prevailing at the time of payment, we have de-risked large-scale residential construction for pension funds, institutional investors and private developers,” Minister Ziyambi said.
Speaking at the same event, the Estate Agents Council of Zimbabwe chairman, Mr Desire Dube, commended Government for the digitalisation and securitisation of title deeds, saying the move to electronic records, secure title and a digital cadastre is one of the most consequential reforms in the sector.
“It will reduce fraud, shorten transaction turnaround times, ensure security of tenure, and make Zimbabwe’s property market more attractive for local and foreign investment. For estate agents who depend on certainty of title and speed of transfer, these reforms are transformational,” he said.
The president of the Real Estate Institute of Zimbabwe (REIZ), Mr Tapuwa Chimbetete, said property is at its heart a legal right and a title deed is only as strong as the system behind it.
“Every home, shop, farm and factory sits on land. Someone has to value it, someone has to let it, someone has to manage it, and someone has to finance it,” he said.
Mr Chimbetete also called for faster and more digital deed registration so that transfers take days rather than months.
