Minister Sylvia T Masebo Urge Zambians to Get Title Deeds

Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Sylvia T Masebo Urge Zambians to Get Title Deeds.   

Key Points From The Minister's Recent National Address. Zambia has approximately 1.2 million numbered properties, but only about 450,000 have registered Certificates of Title.  

More than half of properties lack full legal protection, exposing owners to land disputes and tenure insecurity. Under the National Land Titling Project (NLTP), Government contracted MEDICI Land Governance to implement large-scale land titling.  

The NLTP has so far issued over 232,000 Offer Letters nationwide. Out of these, only about 129,000 encumbered Certificates of Title have been issued. Applicants under the NLTP pay an initial minimum fee of K1,000 to start the titling process. The average outstanding balance required to convert an Offer Letter into a full Certificate of Title is about K1,500. Approximately 129,000 households are therefore close to securing full legal land ownership once outstanding balances are paid.  

The Ministry also issues Certificates of Title through the Sporadic system, where citizens apply physically or online and receive an Invitation to Treat (ITT).  

1. A Nationwide land formalisation campaign will begin in January 2026 and run throughout the year.  

2. The campaign will focus on converting existing ITTs and Offer Letters into Certificates of Title without delay.  

3. Citizens are urged to check national newspapers and official public notices for published property numbers and payment requirements.  

4. A Certificate of Title legally protects landowners, enables safe inheritance, and allows land to be used for investment and development.  

5. Of the 450,000 titled properties, only about 45,000 landowners are paying ground rent.  

6. Current ground rent collections amount to approximately K157 million per year.  

7. Potential ground rent revenue is estimated at over K1.2 billion per year if compliance improves.  

 Ground rent is described as confirmation of lawful and active land ownership, not a punishment. Ground rent revenue can be used to fund roads, health facilities, schools, and local councils.  

Citizens are called upon to:  

* Complete any Invitation to Treat or Offer Letter.  

* Formalise land that is not yet titled.  

Pay ground rent if already in possession of a Certificate of Title. Ground rent payments can be made online through the Government platform zampay.gsb.gov.zm for secure and convenient transactions.  

Issued by:  

Delphine Hampande Zulu   

Principal Public Relations Officer.  

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