Title deeds national roll-out expected

Title deeds national roll-out expected

By Yvonne Mutambwa

The issuance of title deeds to developments on State and Local Authority Land, part of the Presidential Title Deeds and Settlement Regularisation Programme, which was launched by His Excellency the President in Epworth on 22 April 2023 is set to be rolled-out to all other provinces, a Cabinet Minister has said.
“The nation is informed that following the event, the total number of Epworth beneficiaries has increased to 11 200, thereby unlocking value for the recipients through financial inclusion. The program will be rolled out in other provinces. It is pertinent to note that the Presidential Programme will include the issuance of title deeds to long-standing sitting tenants in local authority houses,” said Minister Monica Mutsvangwa.
The programme has been extended to cover Growth Points and Rural Service Centres.  The decision will result in accelerated rural infrastructure development and industrial transformation.
“The Programme for the Provision of Title Deeds to Urban and Peri-Urban Housing Developments on State and Local Authority Land will be implemented through the Whole-of-Government Approach, which incorporates a Working Committee of Officials and a Special Purpose Vehicle comprising banks, engineering and construction companies in a Public Private Partnership arrangement in order to accelerate the implementation of this programme,” said Min. Mutsvangwa.
Named Kwangu/Ngakwami Presidential Title Deeds Programme Consortium, the Special Purpose Vehicle will, among others, undertake the following functions:
Provision of the financial and technical support required for the issuance of the title deeds;
Coordination for the floating of Infrastructure Bonds for purposes of raising additional funding for the Programme; and Collection and management of funds.
“The Programme for the Provision of Title Deeds to Urban and Peri-Urban Housing Developments on State and Local Authority Land will eliminate the scourge of land barons, in addition to promoting access to land and security of tenure for beneficiaries. In general, the issuance of title deeds will unlock the value of land assets, and improve revenue collection at the national and local levels,” said Min. Mutsvangwa.