Story by Fairstars Mukungurutse
CIVIL servants and veterans of the liberation struggle are set to benefit from the Land Title Deeds Programme by acquiring them at a discounted price.
The Presidential Title Deeds Implementation Committee has commenced the process of issuing title deeds to holders of valid offer letters, permits and leases at a stipulated discount including 15% discount for cash holders, 15% discount for war veterans, a five percent discount for civil servants who have served for 20 years and above and 2.5% discount for civil servants who have served for 10 years and above.
In an interview with the ZBC News after presenting a lecture on Climate Smart Innovations to Improve Agricultural Production and Enhance Food Security in Zimbabwe at the Zimbabwe Staff College this Wednesday, Lands Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka explained the rationale behind the discounts.
“In the constitution that we adopted in 2013, we said there shall be more secure tenure. The tenure that existed in 2013 was an A1 permit, an offer letter for A2s, and a 99-year list. So the President has introduced a more secure tenure by introducing a title deed. If you have worked for 20 years or more, you have a certain level of discount. If you have worked less, a certain level of discount.
“We are also mindful that political independence came on the back of a very bitter armed liberation struggle, and that the land revolution itself was also a most bitter struggle. We want to reward those that participated in the liberation of our country, but also participated in liberating our land and giving them an extra discount,” he said.
The government has put in place modalities to ensure those who can not afford to buy the title deeds get mortgage finance.
“There is a land technical implementation committee that is working very hard on this aspect. They have identified four banks, and at the one-stop centre that has been established at Makombe, the banks are busy establishing their offices which will be operational on March 31.
“So, there is a window for those who can pay, and over a defined period, from their resources. We also realised that there ought to be a window for those that are unable to pay immediately and therefore the government is linked with these banks so that no one and no place is left behind,” Minister Masuka said.
The title deeds are being issued under the Land Tenure Implementation Programme launched by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to ensure farmers have access to secure land ownership.
