Residents of Epworth and Eastview, among other informal settlements, should not expect to get title deeds anytime soon after a Cabinet minister said the regularisation of such settlements takes time.
In February, President Emmerson Mnangagwa promised to issue 80 000 title deeds ahead of the March by-elections, a development that critics said was a campaign gimmick.
Last week, National Housing and Social Amenities Minister Daniel Garwe said that the issuance of title deeds is not an event but a process. He said:
<blockquote>
People are misunderstanding the issuance of title deeds as an event. It’s not an event, it’s a process.
In the context of Zimbabwe, the issuance of title deeds is two-fold: The first one is an area such as this one where the settlement has been properly planned, roads constructed, water, sewer and everything.
The other one is that we are now looking at informal settlements like Epworth, Caledonia (Eastview) in Goromonzi. This land was invaded by land barons.
It was not transferred from the Lands ministry to the Local Government ministry. That process is now taking place.
You can’t just come and give a person a paper without a description of the property.
So, the process gives rise to the creation of the proper description which appears on the title deed.
The regularisation process is part of the title deeds issuance process.
</blockquote>
Kushinga Epworth Residents Trust co-ordinator John Mabwe told NewsDay that the regularisation exercise was mired in corruption.
Epworth Residents Development Association secretary Peter Nyapetwa said the ruling ZANU PF party was using the issues of title deeds to gain political mileage ahead of the 2023 general elections. | <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200005001/government-backtracks-on-title-deeds">NewsDay</a>

Pindula News

Issuance Of Title Deeds Takes Time, Says Housing Minister

Caledonia Mining Corporation PLC has brought its new solar power plant at its Blanket mine in Zimbabwe on stream.
Blanket currently receives its power from ZESA, but in recent years, the electricity supply has not been reliable and this has both economic and safety implications for the underground mine.
Caledonia started constructing the 12.2 MWac solar plant late in 2021.
The solar plant is now operational, and in due course, it is expected that it will provide approximately 27% of Blanket’s average daily electricity demand. Mark Learmonth, chief executive of Caledonia, said:
<blockquote>
I am delighted that the solar plant is connected to the Blanket grid and from today Blanket will start to receive some of its energy directly from solar.
With 21 per cent of Blanket’s on-mine costs relating to energy usage, this solar plant is a very important project for the company as it will improve the quality and security of Blanket’s electricity supply and provide environmental benefits through cleaner energy.
The solar power will displace more expensive power from the grid and from the diesel generators and is expected to reduce Caledonia’s consolidated cost per ounce of gold produced by approximately US$37.
</blockquote>
| <a href="https://www.proactiveinvestors.com/companies/news/998222/caledonia-mining-brings-new-solar-power-generation-capability-on-stream-at-the-blanket-gold-mine-998222.html">Proactive</a>

Caledonia Mining brings New Solar Power On Stream At Blanket Mine

The Government says more than 15 urban settlements across the country are undergoing aerial mapping as part of a process that will eventually result in the issuance of title deeds to people living in towns and cities whose houses are yet to be regularised.
The first phase of aerial mapping is expected to be completed by the end of March this year.
Suburbs mapped under the first phase include Eyecourt, Retreat, Caledonia and Hopley in Harare, Cowdray Park in Bulawayo, and suburbs in Karoi (Chiedza Farm), Mutare (Gimboki Farm) and Masvingo (Victoria Range).
People who built houses on undesignated land will be the first to receive title deeds, followed by those in residential areas built on approved land.
The ministries of National Housing and Social Amenities; Local Government and Public Works; and Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development are working together in the project.
Speaking in an interview with The Sunday Mail, National Housing and Social Amenities Minister Daniel Garwe said the Government has already started processing title deeds for some settlements. Garwe said:
<blockquote>
We have started processing title deeds for some settlements which were not properly built. In Harare, we are starting with Caledonia, Domboshava and Hatcliffe.
We also have Gimboki in Mutare in Manicaland. We are then going to do it countrywide, including in rural district councils.
The issue of title deeds is not an event, but a process. We are going to cover the whole country.
The President wants to protect beneficiaries from being continuously fleeced by land barons and land developers.
Where there are children whose parents died, the title deeds will be given to the children.
</blockquote>
Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Permanent Secretary Professor Fanuel Tagwira said:
<blockquote>
The aerial survey will be done and data is processed to produce an orthomosaic (large, map-quality image), which will be spatially integrated with layout plans from the Department of Spatial Planning from the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works.
General plans from the Surveyor-General’s Office for surveyed areas will then be spatially integrated with aerial photos to identify settlements constructed in conformity with the layout plan/general plan.
</blockquote>
Tagwira added that settlements conforming to the plan will subsequently be regularised, subject to confirmation of land ownership.
Those settlements constructed outside the layout plan will be clearly indicated and quantified.
Acting Director of Spatial Planning and Development in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works Honesty Magaya said regularisation will also entail relocating people in some of the settlements.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/title-deeds-mapping-on-course">The Sunday Mail</a></h4>

Govt Commences Processing Of Title Deeds For Urban Settlements

Residents of Tafara, Mabvuku and Caledonia in Harare have expressed concern over an influx of sex workers whom they are accusing of contributing to moral decay and fuelling criminal activities.
The prostitutes have allegedly turned these high-density suburbs into an extensive red-light district.
Women in Action (WA), a women’s group whose major task is to fight prostitution in Caledonia, says most of the sex workers come from as far as Goromonzi and Ruwa in Mashonaland East. Cecilia Mutenga, chairlady of WA said:
<blockquote>
In our case, we are having sex workers that are coming from such far-away places as Goromonzi and Ruwa among others.
By dusk, these scantly dressed ladies will be lining our streets, making suggestive gestures to whoever passes by.
These ladies must be driven away since they are bringing with them vices and moral decadence.
</blockquote>
Mutenga said her group, which falls under the Caledonia Residents Association Trust (CRAT), wants the buildings in which the sex workers use as their love nests to be destroyed.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/new-residents-up-in-arms-against-sex-workers">The Sunday Mail</a></h4>

Mabvuku, Tafara Residents Want 'Brothels' Demolished

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