Blessing Nduku

Residents of Ward 17 have been encouraged to embrace the digitalization of property title deeds. Legal practitioners held an awareness meeting to explain the process, requirements, and benefits of registering properties under this new paperless system.

The meeting, organized by Ward 17 Councilor Prosperity Munyaradzi Chikwira, took place last week at Mpumelelo Primary School and featured lawyers from Gundu Pamacheche and Partners.

Lawyer Fadzai Marongwe clarified that digitalization involves re-registering property title deeds with the Deeds Office under a new paperless system designed to enhance the security and management of property records.

Property owners wishing to register must provide the original title deed documents, a passport-sized photograph, and an identity document.

The estimated cost for this process, which includes legal fees and other associated expenses, is around US$215. Registered legal practitioners must handle this process.

Attendee Mr. Jabulani Muganiwa noted that the lawyers took the time to explain what digitalization means, the necessary steps involved, and the advantages of having property records in the new system. “Most of us were not familiar with the term digitalization, but the lawyers clarified its meaning and how the process works,” he said.

Residents welcomed the digitalization of title deeds, viewing it as a crucial step towards strengthening property ownership records and reducing the risk of fraudulent transactions. Muganiwa added that once a property is properly registered in the system, its ownership details will be securely captured, making it harder for anyone else to fraudulently sell or re-register the property.

“Once the property is registered, it is safe and secure. It can no longer be sold or re-registered by anyone other than the legitimate owner,” he stated.

However, the cost of registration emerged as a significant concern during the meeting. Residents expressed that the estimated fee of US$215 is beyond the reach of many households, especially given the country’s economic challenges.

Muganiwa explained that many families struggle to meet daily needs, making it difficult to raise the required registration fee.

“Many people live from hand to mouth, meaning US$215 is very hard to come by. For some, it could take almost a year to save that amount due to unemployment and economic conditions.”

Concerns also arose for pensioners, as residents noted that they often rely on limited monthly incomes to cover food, school fees for their grandchildren, clothing, council rates, and transport costs. As a result, residents called on the government to reduce the fees or introduce a subsidy to make the digitalization program more accessible for property owners.

While acknowledging the financial burden, residents recognized the importance of securing property ownership through a reliable and modern records system. Mrs. Sheila Shanga thanked Councilor Chikwira for bringing legal practitioners to the ward, saying the meeting helped residents understand a previously unclear process.

“I would like to thank our Councilor for bringing people who provide valuable information. This program should have been organized by our MPs, but we appreciate Councilor Chikwira’s efforts. What we learned for free is something I will pass down to my grandchildren because that information is very vital.”

The meeting emphasized the need for ongoing community awareness as property owners adapt to the changing system and ensure their ownership records are properly protected. Zimbabwe is digitizing all property title deeds under Statutory Instrument 76 of 2025 to combat fraud, eliminate duplicate registrations, and replace outdated paper records. Property owners have a 24-month window to submit and validate their legacy paper documents, with a pilot program and rollout actively scheduled for 2026.

Residents should engage a conveyancer to begin the validation process.

The conveyancer will upload and process records via the Digital Land Administration Platform (DLAP). Property owners need to locate their original title deed, identity documents, and any supporting documents, such as marriage or death certificates where relevant.

The overall process is reported to cost around $215, including a $100 registration fee and $15 VAT, plus professional conveyancing fees.

Once completed and verified, the old paper deed will be replaced with a securitized digital version that includes advanced anti-fraud features like QR codes, holographic graphics, watermarks, and a unique serial number linked to the national registry.