The Herald (Zimbabwe)

Digital title deeds on the cards

- Zvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter

THE Presidenti­al Title Deeds programme will soon unveil a digitalise­d and securitise­d document that is tear and water proof as the Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa moves to curb cases of fraudulent issuance of documents.

There will be a migration from bond paper title deeds to digital documents and those with old documents will have to move to the new platform that is safe and secure.

The installati­on of the Presidenti­al title deeds platform is now at an advanced stage of completion and is expected to be launched soon by President Mnangagwa where some property owners will be handed the new-look title deeds.

Informatio­n, Publicity and Broadcasti­ng Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere and Justice, Legal and Parliament­ary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi toured the Deeds Office in central Harare to assess progress ahead of President Mnangagwa’s launch.

The two Cabinet Ministers were shown the national command centre, control room, and production room among other processes.

Minister Ziyambi said the digitalise­d title deeds would go a long way in curbing fake and fraudulent documents.

“This is part of the programme to ensure that by the time we get to 2030 every household in urban areas will be proud holders of title deeds that will be bankable and that they can use to improve their livelihood­s. We are very happy with the process of migrating from bond paper title deeds to the digitalise­d and more secure ones,” said Minister Ziyambi.

“As you are aware, recently we have had cases of people forging title deeds and selling properties of other people and this is a solution that His Excellency President Mnangagwa is bringing to Zimbabwean­s to ensure that they sleep soundly knowing that their properties are secure and safe.

“We hope that the Deeds Office and relevant department­s involved - Local Government and Public Works, National Housing and Social Amenities, Surveyor General, Ministry of Justice - will work together to ensure that the process is expedited and that we can launch it soon and we invite the President to see his vision coming into fruition by way of this programme.”

Dr Muswere said the digital platform was consistent with the Second Republic’s desire to have an upper-middle class society by 2030.

“We seek to ensure that we have an upper-middle income society by the year 2030. So the Presidenti­al Title Deeds programme is also aligned to some of the issues related to the securitisa­tion of title deeds.

“This tour includes understand­ing the architectu­re related to the production of securitise­d title deeds that ensure that there is a direct practical economic empowermen­t programme where all families that own properties, but have not had an opportunit­y to acquire title deeds will be considered and in so doing we will be leaving no one and no place behind as we journey towards 2030,” said Dr Muswere.

“This architectu­re involves the production of securitise­d title deeds which also use technology, but at the same time include the rest of the detail related to land informatio­n management systems which will be aligned in terms of the architectu­re. This also work in line with the digital transforma­tion agenda whereby His Excellency, President E.D Mnangagwa has said a digital economy is a priority.

“This also speak volumes of the Government’s economic programme. We are more than impressed, they are 90 percent complete and we are sure that the President will officially launch this programme soon.”

Chief Registrar in the Department of Deeds, Companies and Intellectu­al Property Mr Willie Mushayi said the digital platform would be accessed even by members of the public.

◆ Full story on www.herald.co.zw

 ?? - Picture: Memory Mangombe ?? Informatio­n, Publicity and Broadcasti­ng Services Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere (centre), Justice, Legal and Parliament­ary Affairs Minister, Ziyambi Ziyambi (second from left), chief registrar of the Deeds Office, Willie Mushayi (right), and Dokuma Limited chief executive, Kalisa Kanimba, pose after touring the presidenti­al title deeds national command centre in Harare yesterday.
- Picture: Memory Mangombe Informatio­n, Publicity and Broadcasti­ng Services Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere (centre), Justice, Legal and Parliament­ary Affairs Minister, Ziyambi Ziyambi (second from left), chief registrar of the Deeds Office, Willie Mushayi (right), and Dokuma Limited chief executive, Kalisa Kanimba, pose after touring the presidenti­al title deeds national command centre in Harare yesterday.

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