BULAWAYO North MP Minenhle Gumede has raised concern in Parliament over the affordability and accessibility of the ongoing title deed validation and securitisation exercise being conducted through the Digital Land Administration platform.
But Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs minister Ziyambi Ziyambi believes the issue is not of national interest or rather is too complex to be explained in Parliament.
Speaking on a point of national interest, Gumede said while the initiative aimed at strengthening property rights and improving the integrity of land records was commendable, there were growing fears that ordinary Zimbabweans could be financially burdened by the process.
“I rise on a point of national interest regarding the ongoing validation and securitisation of title deeds being undertaken by the Department of Deeds, Companies and Intellectual Property through the Digital Land Administration platform,” she said.
Gumede noted that thousands of Zimbabweans invested their savings in acquiring homes and residential stands, making it critical for the exercise to protect rather than disadvantage citizens.
“The objective of strengthening property rights, improving the integrity of land records and protecting citizens from land fraud is both commendable and necessary,” she said.
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However, the legislator warned that the reported costs of the process were beyond the reach of many citizens.
“Information currently available to the public indicates that property owners may be required to engage conveyancers at a cost of approximately US$200,” she said.
“This excludes VAT [value-added tax] and other associated administrative expenses.”
Gumede said for pensioners, civil servants, widows, informal traders and low-income households, the costs were unaffordable.
“A programme intended to secure citizens’ property rights should not inadvertently become a source of financial hardship, uncertainty or exclusion for the very people it seeks to protect.”
She further highlighted concerns around the implementation framework established under Statutory Instrument 76 of 2025, which provides for a transitional period ending on July 18, 2027, by which property owners are expected to have validated and securitised their title deeds.
Gumede questioned whether the process can realistically be completed within the available timeframe given that services remain largely concentrated in Harare and Bulawayo.
“Property owners from other provinces, particularly elderly citizens, pensioners and those residing in rural communities, may face significant travel, accommodation and administrative costs in accessing this process,” she said.
She warned that without adequate decentralisation and public awareness programmes, many law-abiding property owners risked failing to comply through no fault of theirs.
Gumede also called for clarity on how vulnerable groups, including rural communities and elderly citizens living far from conveyancing services, will be assisted during the exercise.
“And lastly, what safeguards exist to ensure that no citizen loses, compromises or is deprived of their property rights solely due to the inability to afford or access the validation process?”
Describing land and home ownership as matters tied to dignity, security, inheritance and economic empowerment, Gumede urged authorities to strike a balance between modernisation, affordability, inclusivity and social justice.
“If not carefully implemented, a well-intentioned programme risks placing an additional burden on ordinary citizens who are already facing significant economic challenges,” she said.
She concluded by requesting that the responsible minister presents a comprehensive ministerial statement to Parliament addressing the concerns raised by the public over the exercise.
Responding to the questions, Ziyambi shot down at the question saying the matter was not a point of national interest, arguing it was highly technical and would be better handled through a parliamentary committee process rather than a ministerial statement.
“While I respect what you have said, that was not a point of national interest,” Ziyambi said.
He suggested that Gumede should, instead, formally request that Parliament’s relevant committee summons officials responsible for the exercise, including the permanent secretary and the chief registrar, to provide a detailed explanation.
“Perhaps what she could have done was to ask a question or request the committee because there are lots of technical details that are required,” he said.
Ziyambi noted that Parliament in plenary session was not suited to handle the detailed technical aspects surrounding the validation and securitisation process.
“Parliament in session here is not supposed to deal with the details that she is asking,” he added.
The minister proposed that the relevant parliamentary committee be allowed to interrogate the matter comprehensively.
“Perhaps if she had asked the clerk to organise so that you could summon the permanent secretary and the chief registrar, so that the committee could be afforded an opportunity to ask and appreciate what is happening, that would help.”
Ziyambi further argued that a ministerial statement alone will not adequately address the complexity of the issue.
“If you want a ministerial statement, it would probably not do justice but if the relevant committee interrogates that, it would allow Parliament to process the matter in a better way.”