Zimbabwe’s farming sector shifted gears yesterday as the government announced the promised Title Deeds Program, a step that should open doors for more investment, better yields, and greater food security across the country.
Permanent Secretary for Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development, Prof. Dr. Obert Jiri, said this move finally puts an end to the uncertainty that’s made it tough for farmers to borrow money and plan for the future. For years, thousands of farmers, especially those on A1 and A2 resettlement land, worked without land tenure banks would recognize. That shut them out from big loans for things like machinery, irrigation, or other essentials and left many scrambling for quick fixes and exposed to tough weather swings. With these new, bankable, and transferable title deeds, land can actually become something that secures a loan and helps a business grow.
Prof. Jiri said. “Over 13,000 A2 farmers whose land has already been fully surveyed are clear to collect their title deeds, and the process has started at the government’s One-Stop Shop in the Makombe Building in Harare. The deeds are officially accepted by banks such as CBZ, AFC, FBC, ZB, and POSB, so farmers can finally use their land as security for long-term loans. This is expected to make a real difference to farm productivity, giving farmers the chance to invest in things like new tractors, center pivots, solar irrigation, and tech that makes sense for changing weather.”
With unpredictable rainfall becoming more common, being able to finance irrigation can have a huge impact on keeping up crop yields and protecting the nation’s food supply. To make things easier, the process is now both decentralized and digital. Farmers can start their applications on WhatsApp or by email, so they don’t have to keep traveling back and forth to Harare. They only need to show up in person once for signing the Agreement of Sale. The aim is to speed things up and make land administration more open and straightforward.
Prof. Jiri also had cautionary words for Zimbabweans abroad and local investors trying to buy land illegally. He warned that communal land cannot be sold or titled, and only the Ministry of Lands or the Ministry of Local Government can actually allocate land. Plenty of people have lost money to so-called land barons and underground dealers working outside official channels.
At the same time he said, the government has put a hold on new land allocations for now, so the Zimbabwe Land Commission can finish its nationwide audits. They want to be sure all existing land holdings are sorted out and free from disputes before reopening allocations. Now that secure land rights are actually taking shape, some experts think this program could help rebuild investor trust, bring more private capital into farming, and turn agriculture into a true business. Turning land into something farmers can borrow against gives Zimbabwe a shot at building a farming sector that’s tougher, more productive, and built to last.
Over 500 farmers have already benefited from the Land Title Deeds Program as it gains traction, bringing farmers closer to complete ownership and security of their properties.