By Correspondent
At the height of the 2023 election campaigns ZANU PF simply woke up and told people in Epworth they would get title deeds.
President Mnangagwa promised more than 11 000 title deeds to a euphoric crowd.
As a sign of good faith 265 securitised title deeds were given to a select few residents at a ceremony at Epworth High School.
A Cabinet endorsed Kwangu/Ngakwami Presidential Title Deeds Programme Consortium was exhibited as finality to the matter.
The promises have since failed to materialise as Minister Zhenu Soda has reverted to legalism and fact.
Title deeds are not electoral candy to dole out whimsically.
What Is A Title Deed?
A Title deed is a registered legal document which evidences ownership in respect of a defined piece of land or building (immovable property).
Title deeds are also referred to as Deeds of Transfer, Deeds of Grant or Certificates of Registered Title.
The Title Deed includes the following information;
A description of the property, with its size, boundaries and exact position.
-The name and identity number of the person or persons who legally own the property.
It is possible to have more than one owner on a title deed.
-Any factors that could restrict the sale of the property, for example, mortgage bonds or caveats registered over the property.
-An official Deeds Registry Office seal to indicate that the deed has been recorded.
-Details of any access or other rights (sometimes known as ‘servitudes that come with a building or land).
However, Epworth, the supposed beneficiary of Title Deeds is largely a haphazard wild west.
Some areas have no clear roads, demarcations or stand sizes.
At best the area is the encapsulation of what an unregulated land baron territory looks like.
It would be foolhardy for the government to go ahead and give such important documents to properties located and situated in such a manner.
Now that elections are over Minister Soda has laid out the simple legal line to the matter.
Soda’s Soda To Dampen Title Hopes
“The ministry, in partnership with the private sector is working to ensure that allocated stands that are yet to be serviced are regularised through the user principle.”
“The beneficiaries in those areas are expected to pay for certain services to ensure that the road infrastructure, water and sewage reticulation are in place.
“Without proper servicing of these stands, the government cannot issue title deeds.
That is all there is to the matter, no Title Deeds until there is order!
Anything else is political fodder to massage residents to sleep.
