Harare- Zimbabwe has launched a nationwide Title Deeds Validation and Securitisation Programme aimed at addressing long-standing concerns around property fraud, record duplication, and inefficiencies in land administration.
The initiative, announced by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Vimbai Nyemba introduces a system for verifying title deeds and converting them into securitised, digitally backed documents.
She said the programme is guided by Statutory Instrument 76 of 2025.
“The objective of this framework is to ensure that all existing property records are verified for authenticity and securely digitised, thereby mitigating the risks of fraud, duplication, and loss,
while strengthening the integrity of the national Deeds Registry,” she said.
“In accordance with the programme requirements, all property owners in possession of title deeds are required to engage a conveyancer of their choice and present their original title deed for validation. The conveyancer will submit the requisite information through the DLAP system to the Deeds Registry for processing. Upon successful verification, a securitised title deed will be issued.”
Nyemba said additional benefits of the new system include improving transparency and strengthening confidence in property ownership systems, particularly in urban areas where disputes and inconsistencies have been common.
For many property owners, the initiative presents an opportunity to regularise ownership and unlock value tied up in real estate assets.
However, stakeholders say widespread public education will be key to ensuring meaningful participation during the rollout phase.-newsday
