Harare – The Government of Zimbabwe has taken a bold step toward modernising the country’s land ownership system with the introduction of the Deeds Registries Regulations, 2025 under Statutory Instrument (S.I.) 76 of 2025. The sweeping reforms are aimed at tackling long-standing issues of fraud, corruption, and inefficiency in the Deeds Office by shifting the country toward a digital, secure, and transparent land registry.
The new regulations, gazetted this month, introduce several significant changes that will impact property owners, legal practitioners, and registry officials alike. Below are some of the most notable provisions:
Revalidation of Title Deeds (Section 40)
Perhaps the most far-reaching reform is the mandatory revalidation of existing title deeds. Under the new law, property owners are required to submit their current paper deeds for electronic validation within 24 months of the publication of the statutory instrument.
Failure to comply could render those title deeds legally invalid.
“This measure is a direct response to rampant fraud linked to outdated, manually handled paper deeds,” a legal analyst told Harare 24. “It’s about cleaning house and making sure every title in the system is verified and accounted for.”
Introduction of Securitised Deeds (Section 41)
Once validated, owners will receive new digitally traceable and securitised deeds, which will replace traditional paper-based documents. These securitised deeds are expected to significantly reduce the risk of forgery, duplication, or unlawful transfers.
Analysts believe this could be a game-changer in curbing insider tampering and organised property fraud that has plagued Zimbabwe’s land sector for decades.
Disposal of Obsolete Paper Records (Section 42)
Another major development is the planned destruction or disposal of outdated physical records. Once all deeds have been validated and digitised, paper-based archives will be decommissioned to prevent them from being used in fraudulent schemes.
“This is a decisive move to eliminate the ‘black market’ of backdated documents and forged copies,” noted a government official involved in the reforms.
Criminal Penalties for Fraud (Section 43)
The new law also introduces tough penalties for any individual or organisation found guilty of manipulating the land registry system. Offences include forging documents, impersonating owners, or colluding with insiders to tamper with deed records.
Legal experts say these provisions finally give authorities the legal teeth to prosecute those undermining land ownership integrity.
Digital Future, Legal Certainty
At its core, S.I. 76 of 2025 represents a major leap toward a modern, secure and accountable property registry system—bringing Zimbabwe in line with international best practices.
While the transition may pose short-term challenges, especially for rural or elderly deed holders, government sources indicate that public awareness campaigns and support centres will be rolled out to assist with the validation process.
If successfully implemented, the reforms promise to restore public trust in the Deeds Office, attract property investment, and ensure every rightful landowner is protected under the law.
