By Staff Reporter
CHIWESHE, Bindura – At a ceremony in Mazowe yesterday, President Emmerson Mnangagwa handed over 1,000 title deeds to farmers — a move he described as the final consolidation of land reform and the beginning of “true land ownership” for Black Zimbabweans.
Each beneficiary also received a US$6,000 agricultural loan, aimed at reviving productivity ahead of the next planting season. The programme, backed by a ZIG 1.9 billion facility, is expected to expand rapidly, with 10,000 more farmers set to receive title deeds in the coming phases.
“This is not just policy; it is liberation,” Mnangagwa declared. “For the first time in history, a Black person can fully and legally own land in their own name. Today, 1,000 Zimbabweans have proof of ownership that no one can ever take away.”
Among the recipients were war veterans — whom Mnangagwa hailed as “the true liberators of our land.” The President also launched the Production Booster Kit, a government support package designed to accelerate climate-smart agriculture and strengthen food security.
In his speech, Mnangagwa linked the title deeds initiative to broader national strategies against climate change.
“At the national level, my Government is climate-proofing agriculture through extensive dam construction. A corresponding development of modern irrigation systems is being prioritised and scaled up,” he said. “Under our irreversible thrust of being a nation capable of feeding itself, irrigation development has become an invaluable tool in our fight against the adverse effects of climate change.”
Analysts say the handover of title deeds marks a critical turning point in Zimbabwe’s controversial land reform saga. For years, farmers have worked land under uncertain tenure arrangements, with 99-year leases often seen as weak collateral by banks. True freehold ownership, if delivered, could restore confidence in the financial sector by enabling farmers to secure loans and inject liquidity back into the economy.
Before the chaotic land seizures of the early 2000s, farmers — though few in number — accounted for the bulk of bank borrowing. By some estimates, 20 percent of borrowers, mostly commercial farmers, drove 80 percent of all lending. Restoring such a dynamic could help reverse years of stagnation and unlock Zimbabwe’s agricultural potential.
Critics, however, remain cautious. While the move is being celebrated as historic, there are lingering questions about the legal strength of the deeds and whether they amount to unconditional ownership or politically mediated documents subject to future revocation. Some fear the programme could be used as a political tool ahead of elections, cementing loyalty among beneficiaries rather than creating a stable foundation for long-term agricultural growth.
For now, though, Mnangagwa’s government is portraying the programme as the final chapter in Zimbabwe’s long and bitter struggle over land. The President himself has framed the initiative in liberation terms: “This is not just empowerment, it is sovereignty.”
