Matenganyika Farmers Get Green Light For Title Deeds

By Knowledge Muneri

The Government has confirmed that farmers who bought land at the advent of independence will not be excluded from the ongoing title deeds program, saying they also need to be empowered. This follows complaints from a small-scale farmer from Jena/Gota farm in Guruve who said he had wanted to be part of the Government’s title deed program but had been told that there were no plans to print title deeds for farmers who bought farms (commonly known as Matenganyika) at independence .

“Having completed all requirements, including doing the very expensive process of surveying, as well as paying for the final printing five months ago, the response we get every time is that there is no program to print title deeds,” he said. Some of the Matenganyika farms are Zviyambe, Chitomborwizi, Chesa, Chitowa, Nyakapupu, Gota, Karuyana, Nyazvidzi, Nyanyadzi, Makoholi, Nyamuzizi, and Marirangwe.

However, stakeholder subcommittee on land tenure chairperson, Mr. Happison Muchechetere, said Matenganyika/self-contained farmers were included in the title deeds program. “They are a central part of this initiative, and the facts are that Matenganyika settlements (covering farm, homestead, and grazing land) are treated the same as A1 and A2 farmers. No one is being left behind,” he said .

Title Deed Process

The Land Tenure Implementation Committee (LTIC) is responsible for overseeing the issuance of title deeds for all agricultural and urban land. The LTIC has established a one-stop center at the Makombe Complex to ease the process for farmers. The center has seven workstations:
- 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
- Station 7: Conveyancing (Agreements preparation and signing)

Benefits for Farmers

Farmers in the small-scale commercial farming category who were allocated State land long back, initially on offer; then short-term lease and 99-year lease with option to purchase are also benefiting from the title deeds program. Minister Masuka said some indigenous farmers who had their farms acquired by the Government but not resettled or partially settled were now getting their title deeds back by the uplifting of endorsements where there are no settlements, while for those partially settled, would get a deed of transfer on the remaining portion .