Purchasing a house in Zimbabwe can be a tricky assignment. This is because it involves several steps, which may vary depending on whether you are purchasing from an individual, local authority, a company or the government. It can be stressful as well due to the rising number of property scams.
Below is a general guideline:
<h2>1. Identify the Details of the Property</h2>
Establish if the Seller has title deed for the property in their name. Also ascertain if the property has architectural drawings, engineering drawings and also check if the plans were approved by the local authority.
<h2>2. Conduct due diligence</h2>
This is to ensure that everything is above board i.e it meets the requirements for each location, pricing and conditions of payment.
<h2>3. Verify Ownership and Legal Status</h2>
Obtain a copy of the title deed. Conduct deeds search at the Deeds Registry Office to confirm ownership and check for any encumbrances (unsettled deceased estates, mortgages, disputes or caveats). For properties without title deeds, confirm with respective local authority for council land, respective government ministry. Check for double sale
<h2>4. Negotiate the Terms of the Sale</h2>
Discuss the price, payment terms and any conditions of the sale with the seller. Its advisable that one engages the services of a lawyer to facilitate negotiations.
<h2>5. Drafting of Agreement of Sale</h2>
A lawyer or estate agent should prepare a formal Agreement of Sale outlining the purchase price, payment terms and conditions. Ordinarily both parties must sign the agreed Agreement of Sale.
<h2>6. Obtain Tax Clearance Certificate</h2>
The Seller must obtain a Tax Clearance Certificate from the <a href="https://zimra.co.zw">Zimra</a> to confirm that all tax related obligations have been met.
<h2>7. Transfer of Title</h2>
The Seller’s conveyancer prepares transfer documents, which are lodged at the Deeds Registry Office. The Buyer will be required to pay stamp duty at the point of registration at the Deed Registry Office, calculated based on the property value and related procedures.
<h2>8. Handover and Finalization</h2>
After all the payments are completed and the title is transferred, the seller officially hands over possession of the property to buyer. Utility accounts (water, electricity, rates) should be updated to reflect the owner.
 
Lenon Itai Rwizi is a Registered Legal Practitioner of the Superior Courts of Zimbabwe and can be contacted on: +263 774 159 146 or +263 713 967 341 <a href="mailto:lenonrwizi@gmail.com">lenonrwizi@gmail.com</a>. The above does not constitute formal legal advice, and neither does it create any type of attorney-client relationship. Please seek legal advice from your own by contacting the writer <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057530166769">https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057530166769</a> or any attorney of your choice.

Pindula News

Buying a house in Zimbabwe can be hard because of scams. You need to know all the details about the property and make sure everything is legal. Check the ownership, negotiate the price, and sign an agreement. Get a Tax Clearance Certificate from Zimra. Transfer the title at the Deeds Registry Office and pay stamp duty. Once everything is done, the seller gives you the property. It's important to update utility accounts. Follow these steps to buy a property in Zimbabwe safely.

Navigating the Property Market in Zimbabwe: Steps to Consider when Acquiring a Property in Zimbabwe

Veritas Zimbabwe, an organization which provides information on the work of the Parliament of Zimbabwe, the Laws of Zimbabwe and makes public domain information widely available has launched a new project called Veritas Women.
The project can be accessed on <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.veritaswomen.net&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1551350703120000&amp;usg=AFQjCNEtFnL7QyOockW8wzFjTvVaOQ0MTg" href="http://www.veritaswomen.net/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">www.veritaswomen.net</a>
Announcing the new project today, Veritas Zimbabwe wrote:
<blockquote>
VERITAS Zimbabwe has launched an Interactive Women’s Platform.  It will provide information on the rights and status of women in Zimbabwe and also information on where to turn and what legal options are available if women feel their rights are being violated or ignored.
Women who interact on the platform will become more knowledgeable on the Constitution and other rights enshrined in our laws.
Veritas Women will work as a resource, providing information about service provisions by the State, legal aid clinics, labour advice centres, and other women’s rights oriented civil society organisations (CSOs).
It will provide a safe platform for women and girls to discuss their rights and the problems they encounter in claiming their rights using the county’s main languages of English, Ndebele and Shona.  The aim is to give agency to women and girls to claim their rights and this will ultimately lead to gender equality and a more just society.
The interactive forum is specifically meant for women and girls, but is open to all who have women’s rights at heart.   We particularly encourage organisations which work with women to use it.
The forum is meant to help people discuss and ask questions on rights and laws promoting these rights.
Questions can be asked via email, WhatsApp, SMS, Facebook and Twitter.
The Veritas Women team will answer all questions and queries in the shortest time possible.  During office hours you will often find a Veritas lawyer on-line for an email chat or able to talk to you on a WhatsApp Chat.
The overall goal is to connect different kinds of women from all over Zimbabwe  – wives, mothers, partners, students, apprentices, entrepreneurs or employees – and enable them to share thoughts, strengths, and strategies.
Share any achievements and success stories you have on Veritas Womens News page or on Facebook or Twitter. 
<h3 style="font-weight: 400;">Discuss your ideas on our Blog.</h3>
If you find difficulty in claiming your rights, and if you face challenges at home, in the workplace and society at large, share your experiences with other women.   Veritas will use your ideas to do advocacy  on your behalf with Parliament or other State institutions or may give you ideas on how to join together to do your own advocacy.
Increased solidarity of Zimbabwe’s women, based on shared conditions, experiences, or concerns, is going to be the hallmark of the project.
Internationally, 2018 was the year of the woman.  Women organised themselves and managed to harness their outrage. They were more engaged, energised and resolute than ever.  Issues that were long ignored are coming to the surface, and women are beginning to speak up and use their voices and influence to demand real change.
It has become more and more important for women to harness their collective power by creating a safe platform where they  can collaborate, share and empower each other in one unified and secure space.
Millions joined the “Women’s March” round the world, and more women opened up and bravely told their stories of harassment and sexual assault and bullying in the work place. The major driving factor for the successes was the social media.  Information is power.  Other popular campaigns include the “Me Too” movement that support survivors of sexual violence and assault.  If you are thinking of launching a similar campaign, share you ideas with others on the Veritas Women’s Platform.
</blockquote>

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