LSZ Demands Answers Over “Handpicked” Law Firms for Title Deeds Digitization
- Southerton Business Times
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
The Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) has formally engaged the government following an outcry over the selection of 16 law firms to spearhead the Title Deeds Validation and Re-Issuance Pilot Programme. Legal practitioners and transparency advocates are questioning the criteria used to shortlist the firms, citing concerns over fair competition and nepotism in the digital land reform process.
The controversy erupted after a government notice in The Sunday Mail on 5 April 2026 confirmed that a pilot phase for the Digital Land Administration System (DLAS) had commenced on 1 April. While the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs framed the move as a leap toward modernization, the legal fraternity was quick to flag the "exclusive" nature of the participant list.
Prominent advocate Thabani Mpofu publicly slammed the development on 7 April, describing the handpicking of firms as a blow to professional standards.
“This kind of nepotism and corruption is disgusting and must be fought by all men and women of conscience,” Mpofu stated, adding that the state shouldn't dictate legal representation for property holders.
In a circular issued to members on 7 April 2026, the LSZ Executive Secretary, E. Mapara, acknowledged the rising heat within the profession. The society confirmed it has reached out to the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Justice to seek clarity.
LSZ Position: The body stated that member concerns regarding the selection of conveyancers are "both valid and urgent."
Next Steps: A formal response from the government is expected within 48 hours to justify the exclusion of hundreds of other registered firms from the pilot phase.
The Zimbabwe Title Deeds Digitization Programme is governed by Statutory Instrument 76 of 2025, which mandates that property owners convert physical deeds into digital formats within two years.
According to government officials, the pilot aims to:
Test the security of the secure digital land administration framework.
Refine the efficiency of the DLAP system before a nationwide rollout.
Eliminate the risk of fraudulent title deeds and double allocations.
However, an independent property analyst in Harare noted, “While modernization is welcome, the lack of a disclosed cost structure for title deed conversion and the perceived gatekeeping of the process could erode public trust in the new system.” As the two-week pilot progresses, the LSZ remains under pressure to ensure that the transition to digital land titles in Zimbabwe remains an inclusive process for all qualified legal practitioners.
Title Deeds Digitization Programme
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