IN a landmark development aimed at formalising informal settlements and promoting home ownership, the government in collaboration with the City of Bulawayo and Kwangu/Ngakwami, officially rolled out the Presidential Title Deed Programme in Cowdray Park at the weekend.
Speaking at the activation ceremony, Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion minister Mthuli Ncube emphasised the significance of the programme in uplifting communities and ensuring equitable development across all settlements.
“Cowdray Park is a well-planned surveyed, casual settlement. However, more needs to be done in addressing water and sanitation issues, roads and other social amenities,” he said.
“We are here today to kickstart the regularisation and sanitisation process.
“Today’s issuing of securitised offer letters marks the first step towards the title deed application process.”
The event saw the distribution of offer letters to residents — a key step towards property ownership.
Ncube also announced that by January next year, earth-moving equipment will be on the ground to begin infrastructural work, including roads, sewage and water systems.
“Cowdray Park was deliberately identified and selected for this programme, which is set to benefit 15 000 beneficiaries in total.
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“I was pushing for us to do this launch last year, but we had certain issues that we needed to deal with in terms of our system,” he said.
“Others would have done this a year ago, but here we are — it’s never late. So, we know that 15 000 beneficiaries in Cowdray Park are due for the title deeds programme.”
Ncube said the Kwangu Ngakwani Presidential Title Deed Programme was expected to bridge the gap through the mobilisation of resources through public-private partnerships.
“So, the programme will be raising funding from the private sector to roll out the infrastructure leverages,” he said.
Cowdray Park resident Themba Mpofu applauded the move saying: “Now I can walk freely knowing that the process of title deeds has already started. I am very grateful for that.”
Another resident Amos Chagondera shared similar sentiments.
“Am very happy about the developments, I started building my house in 2009 and to get an offer later now is a huge achievement. I am grateful to the government,” he said.
The Presidential Title Deed Programme is part of a broader national initiative to improve security of tenure, enhance access to services and unlock the value of housing assets for citizens living in informal and urban settlements.
