New security measures for land reform programme beneficiaries
CLOUDINE MATOLA
A decision by Government to implement new measures to unlock the full benefits of the land reform programme could enable landowners to access reasonably priced funding to finance their operations from financial institutions, Business Times can report.
The move comes as lenders have been rejecting the leases as collateral due to tenure uncertainty. The lenders want immovable assets, which most farmers do not have.
Speaking at a post Cabinet media brief on Tuesday this week, Information Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere, said Government will introduce a bankable, registrable and transferrable more secure document of tenure to replace 99-year leases, offer letters and permits to provide enhanced security to beneficiaries of land reform programme.
Dr Muswere also said that the State has a duty to alienate agricultural land for value and to grant everyone in the nation security of tenure.
“Against this background and in line with Section 292 of the Constitution read together with Sections 289, 293 and 294 that obligates the State to give security of tenure to every person and to alienate for value agricultural land among other requirements, Government will implement several measures including that all land held by beneficiaries of the Land Reform Programme under 99-year leases, offer letters and permits, will now be held under a bankable, registrable and transferrable more secure document of tenure, to be issued by the Government of Zimbabwe to beneficiaries.
“As such, beneficiaries of the Land Reform Programme will now have enhanced security of tenure to the land they legitimately hold,” he said.
Muswere said the government will prioritise war veterans, youths as well as women.
“Priority will be given to our veterans of the liberation struggle, youths and women and security of tenure to all agricultural land regularized under this programme, will at all time only be transferrable among indigenous Zimbabweans.
“The land targeted for the new land tenure system will exclude communal land that is under the jurisdiction of traditional Chiefs,” Dr Muswere said.
He added:” Urban land will only be made commercially available to credible and approved land developers who will add value to the land in compliance with all relevant laws and protocols.
Ultimately, the goal is to establish high quality housing developments in fulfilment of our vision of an upper-middle income society by 2030. Areas that are not in use within cities will be considered for urban development. Urban renewal, urban transformation and regularization will also be given priority.”
In addition, Dr Muswere said President Emmerson Mnangagwa set up two key committees which are the Cabinet Oversight Committee led by Minister Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri and land tenure implementation committee.
“The President has constituted a Cabinet Oversight Committee chaired by Minister Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri to lead this reform process. A technical committee – the Land Tenure Implementation Committee (LTIC) – to coordinate and steer the implementation of this process will also be constituted.
“These Committees will work diligently to develop improved security of tenure for land beneficiaries, while ensuring that the value of agricultural and urban State land is fully unlocked to guarantee inclusive and nationwide economic development. Detailed terms of reference have been developed for the two Committees,” he said.
He also said government will put in place all the necessary institutional and logistical mechanisms to ensure the smooth coordination and implementation of these new policies and objectives.
However, due to this secure document, government forthwith issues an indefinite moratorium on the issuance of any new 99-year leases, offer letters and permits for agricultural land.
