By Staff Reporter
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has issued the first batch of title deeds to the first cohort of beneficiaries under the Land Tenure Implementation Programme (LTIP) ostensibly to guarantee land ownership by indigenous black Zimbabweans.
Mnangagwa says land tenure security encourages investment and productivity, and with secure land tenure, farmers can access finance to enhance income.
Addressing guests at the launch of the LTIP at his family venture, Precabe Farm, in Kwekwe Friday, the 82-year-old Zanu PF leader said the title deed preserve security and unlock investment potential, which displays his government’s commitment towards empowering beneficiaries of the chaotic year 2000 land grab that dispossessed mostly white commercial farmers.
Mnangagwa described the event as a huge step in the country’s journey towards the attainment of wishful Vision 2030 to attain upper middle-income society.
“It is with a great sense of pride and joy that we gather here on this historic day to highlight another accomplishment of the Second Republic,” he said.
“… My government is charting a new transformative and inclusive development agenda encapsulated in our National Development Strategy 1 (NDS 1).
“This is consistent with the collective aspirations and determination of the people of our great nation to become an empowered and prosperous upper middle-income society by 2030.”
To see the implementation of the title deeds system, Mnangagwa appointed a Land Tenure Technical Committee chaired by controversial businessman and his henchman, Kudakwashe Tagwirei.
During his address, Mnangagwa cajoled financial institutions to embrace title deeds to enable access to finance which is vital to productivity.
According to Mnangagwa, the tenure system will revolutionalise the Land Reform Programme embarked upon by the then Robert Mugabe-led administration from the year 2000, and ensure bankability and transferability of title.
“The land in our great motherland is an indispensable economic enabler to the attainment of our vision, more so that agriculture is at the epicentre of our national transformative agenda,” he said.
Mnangagwa added that land holds deep historical significance as its ownership dates back to the First Chimurenga, adding that the country’s forebearers fought tirelessly for the right to have the land.
“The land is irreversibly with its people, and the people irreversibly with their land. The Land Reform Programme is, therefore, irreversible,” he said.
Mnangagwa reiterated that the national Constitution recognised the importance of land in the matrix of agricultural productivity.
“Our Constitution binds us to strengthen the Land Tenure System of 99-year Leases and A1/A2 permits. The Constitution, in sections 289, 293 and 295, gives rights to every Zimbabwean citizen to acquire, hold, occupy, use, transfer or dispose of agricultural land.
“Land tenure security is critically important to Zimbabwe’s economic growth and development.
It encourages investment, improves agricultural production and productivity, and lifts many out of poverty into prosperity,” he said.
With secure land tenure, the President said, farmers can access credit facilities, buy inputs and hire labour, ultimately increasing their yields and incomes.
“As such, the importance of more secure, bankable and transferable land tenure cannot be overstated. Such a tenure document is the ultimate empowerment tool for our farmers, especially war veterans and their children.
“The title deed, which my government has developed for issuance to farmers, will preserve security and spur investment for accelerated livelihoods’ upliftment and economic development,” said Mnangagwa.
“My administration has, therefore, made a bold decision to empower the beneficiaries of the Land Reform Programme by giving them tenure that will unlock the value of our land, allowing it to be used as collateral.”
He emphasised that war veterans, youths, women and people with disabilities should be prioritised for the title deeds.
He implored financial institutions to embrace the title deeds in order to improve farmers’ access to finance and capital, which is critical for production.
“Let me reiterate my government’s commitment to ensuring that land distribution is fair, transparent, and beneficial to all Zimbabweans.
“The handover of these title deeds is a testament to our commitment to empower Zimbabweans – the estimated 23 500 A2 farmers and estimated 360 000 A1 farmers,” he said.
Farmers were reminded that the land must be utilised judiciously and responsibly.
“As you are aware, the land vests in the President on behalf of the State. The State is, therefore, transferring the land to each holder of a valid land tenure document.
“This new tenure system will be the ultimate anchor of our Land Reform Programme. To the recipients of this new tenure document, I challenge you to use this to defend the revolution, unlock investment and increase production, productivity, profitability, viability, and sustainability to accelerate agricultural transformation,” Mnangagwa said.
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