Epworth residents celebrate title deeds
By Tinotenda Afarasi
In the build up to the March 26, 2022 by-elections, President Mnangagwa promised to regularise a number of settlements, described by many as illegal settlements, to give dignity to the people who constructed houses on land they were not supposed to.
He said it was not the people’s problem that they constructed houses on State land without clearance; but they were just victims of cash-hungry land barons who made them believe that the settlements were genuine.
Since the turn of the millennium, many people wishing to become homeowners have lost a lot of money and time after paying for illegal land, only for the Government to rightly destroy their houses.
And the anguish of witnessing your money blown to pieces, had tormented the people of Epworth and others across the country.
It had become a vicious cycle; the people needed somewhere they could call home and would not blink when an opportunity came along, “as they wanted to do the best for their families”.
The aspiring homeowners did not tire.
If another land baron came along claiming they had land with all required documents, the people would buy again, hoping that lightning does not strike twice.
But for some people, lightning struck more than five times, and to their credit, they did not give up.
For a man who has said he is prepared to listen to the cries of his people, President Mnangagwa instructed his Government’s departments to find a way of ensuring that everyone who built a house in a systematic way, gets title deeds so that their houses are not destroyed, again.
The President said he thought the process would be a stroll in the park, but it turned out to be long and painstaking.
And one fine afternoon on April 22, 2023, securitised title deeds were delivered to 265 residents of Epworth, and more would get theirs.
The programme will also be rolled out across the country to guarantee property ownership and allow holders of the title deeds to borrow money from banks using the title deeds as collateral.
Thousands of people converged in Epworth on the day to receive their title deeds or check if indeed it was true that people on irregular settlements would be regularised.
Some of the people who got title deeds on the day include Ms Loveness Mushipe, Mr Richard Muringwa, Ms Joyce Kadurira, Mr Regis Mutaurwa, Mr Austin Gomo, Mr Phillip Mbaimbai, Mr Peter Dick and Ms Martha Karimazondo.
In separate interviews after getting their title deeds, the beneficiaries saluted President Mnangagwa honouring his pledge, which has made them “people among others from now on”.
Mr Dick said: “We want to thank the President for what he has done for us.
“We were lagging behind as the people of Epworth, but now that we have title deeds, we are very happy as the title deeds give us permission to live on our stands for good. We will leave an inheritance for our children.”
Another beneficiary, Ms Karimazondo said: “We are happy with the title deeds we got from our President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
“This is real grace; our children will live in peace even when we are gone. All along we didn’t have documents to support that we are genuine houseowners.
“Epworth people were looked down upon as we didn’t have deeds for our houses but the President has changed all that.”
Another beneficiary, who proudly held the title deeds side-by-side with his wife, said: “If anyone thought it was a lie (that we would get title deeds) I think they have seen for themselves here in Epworth that the President was telling the truth.
“When we received our title deeds, we were overjoyed because that was my first time to shake hands with the President. Shaking hands with the President is an opportunity that people don’t get all the time, but I had my chance as I received my title deeds.
“So, I want to thank the President for fighting for us to get these title deeds. We can now be counted among people who own houses in Zimbabwe.”
Ms Takaitei Madangwa, with a stand in Glenwood, said: “I thank the President for remembering us with title deeds here in Epworth for the first time. I encourage other women to have their own properties and have title deeds so that when relatives of our husbands come to grab properties from us in the event of the death of your husband, you will not lose your house.”
Epworth pioneers settlements regularisation
In his address during the handover of title deeds, President Mnangagwa said he was launching the Presidential Title Deeds and Settlement Regularisation Programme, in Epworth, following his announcement and promise “that the citizenry of our beloved motherland, Zimbabwe should enjoy the full ownership of their properties as reflected by the possession of title deeds”.
“Today, I have thus returned to Epworth to deliver on that promise. This is in keeping with the true meaning of our hard-won Independence and quest to realise the dignity of our people,” said the President.
“It is more important that we are launching this Presidential Title Deeds and Settlement Regularisation Programme a few days after our nation celebrated 43 years of Independence and freedom.
“The Second Republic under the ZANU PF leadership walks the talk. We are a Government that delivers. Brick by brick, stone upon stone, we are realising the development aspirations set out in the National Development Strategy towards Vision 2030.”
President Mnangagwa said the Epworth community will be remembered in the country’s history of urban development and planning as pioneers in the transformation and modernisation of formerly marginalised urban settlements that had unfortunately earned the infamous title of “illegal settlement”.
He also commended the Inter-ministerial Cabinet Committee tasked with delivering on the title deeds programme, for a job well done.
“The Committee implemented this very important programme in record time and produced the title deeds which I am happy to issue to beneficiary families.
“The Title Deeds and Settlement Regularisation Programme connects very well with our national vision to become a ‘Prosperous and Empowered Upper-Middle Income Society by 2030’,” he said.
The title deeds programme is one of the many responsive interventions by the Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa to improve the quality of life and livelihoods of citizens.
Title deeds are important empowerment tools and legal documents that give beneficiaries several rights including ownership and security of tenure, disposal and transfer of ownership from one person to another.
The title deeds also outline land boundaries of the property and other related conditions.
President Mnangagwa called upon all the families that got title deeds to keep them in safe and secure places.
In line with the Devolution and Decentralisation Policy that entails bringing services closer to the people, a field office has been established in Epworth, for the efficient delivery of the settlement regularisation programme.
Following the historic launch in Epworth, the Presidential Title Deeds and Settlement Regularisation Programme is set to be rolled out in other provinces.
President Mnangagwa said the move demonstrates that there is political will and technical skills to deliver, while sufficient resources are available to support this exercise.
“No-one and no place or suburb or township will be left behind. Together, let us continue to build smart, sustainable, and orderly human settlements,” he said.
To date, the Government, in collaboration with the Epworth Local Board, has developed a comprehensive Master Plan for Epworth.
This outlines the location of schools, clinics, hospitals, commercial and industrial sites towards streamlining development and the delivery of efficient and timely services.
Going forward, the Master Plan must inform future developments of Epworth as the community continues to grow.
Second Phase beckons
President Mnangagwa said the second phase of the regularisation programme involves the servicing of land.
This will see the construction of road, electricity and bulk water supply infrastructure as well as modern sewer and waste management facilities.
In this regard, he appealed to the Epworth community to support these initiatives and collaborate with the various Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies assigned to undertake this work.
“Let us all demonstrate unity of purpose and oneness as we re-model this community of Epworth. The regularisation of this settlement is a mammoth development project which must be collective in nature.
“Every individual and household effort, skills and contribution counts. ‘Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo/ ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo’.
“Let us remain focused, united and determined to see the success of this project. We must transform Epworth and other human settlements, while ensuring that benefiting households enjoy the real value of their properties and environments.”
The President challenged the Epworth community to consistently participate in the National Clean-Up and Beautification Programme that occurs on the first Friday of every month.
Security of title deeds
Those that have not yet obtained their title deeds have been advised not to reproduce from those handed to their neighbours as the original copy has many hidden security features.
The title deeds are also “tear-proof”, among other security features.
The process of producing the title deeds is thorough and involves various Ministries, Agencies and Departments, working together, under the Whole of Government Approach.
This guarantees the security of the title deeds and protects against counterfeit or fake documents.
President Mnangagwa said the days when people would lose their hard-earned savings to unscrupulous merchants and land barons who sell land without any documentation, are now gone.
“Through the regularisation of these settlements, it becomes a prerequisite to produce a title deed as proof of ownership in the sale of and disposal of land,” he said.
