Essential Institutions and Offices to Consult for Real Estate Due Diligence in Zimbabwe (Abridged/condensed and updated version):

Real estate?investment?in Zimbabwe requires meticulous due diligence. Here are key offices and institutions to consult in order to augment personal safety.??

Part 1 of 2: Offices and Institutions to consult for due diligence checks:

1. Law Society of Zimbabwe:

Engaging an authentic?legal practitioner is essential in any real estate transaction. The Law Society of Zimbabwe?monitors and regulates legal practitioners, ensuring?one deals?with qualified professionals. Notary publics and conveyancers?provide essential services such as, inter-alia,?conveyancing, drafting notarial deeds, verifying identity documents.

Contact Information:

5th Floor,

Law Society House,

46 Kwame Nkrumah Avenue, Harare

2. Office of the Surveyor General:

All legitimate private land and buildings in Zimbabwe must have cadastral data from the Surveyor General’s office. This data is crucial for verifying title deeds and property boundaries.

Contact Information:

Department of Surveyor General,

5th Floor, Trust Towers,

56 Samora Machel Avenue,

Harare

3.?Deeds Registry:

Administers the Deeds Registries Act [Chapter 20:05]?(section 9?of which accords the public access to inspect a title deed when a legitimate need arises, and, section 20?of which specifies what particulars should be present in legitimate title deeds). The deeds registries hold records of all freehold interests in private land and buildings. By?both paying a nominal fee?(currently US$5 or its equivalent in local currency) and following strict procedure, one?may?access a title deed prior to transacting.

Contact Information:

Ground Floor, Century House,

38 Nelson Mandela Avenue, Harare

4. Companies Registry:

If dealing with property owned by a company, verifying?details such as directors, company status, and legal standing may be done through the Companies Registry.

Contact Information:

Ground Floor, Century House,

38 Nelson Mandela Avenue, Harare

5. Ministry of Local Government and Public Works:

The Ministry of Local Government and Public Works?handles most state land transactions, and is responsible for incorporation of state land, as well as oversight of its’ development up the “settlement hierarchy” ?(i.e.?from communal land to business centers, from business centers to rural service centers, from rural service centers to growth points, from growth points to towns, and, from towns to the apex settlement of cities [see the treatment, “Urban Development in Zimbabwe: A human perspective. Theoretical and Empirical Researches in Urban Management”, by Munzwa K.M & Jonga W, 2010;) Said ministry?manages?the transfer of state land to private entities?through incorporation to local authorities, housing co-operatives (at least once-upon-a-time), property developers, as well as?oversees/manages?government buildings.

??Last but not least, Ministry of Local Government and Public Works is mandated to administer the Regional Town and Country Planning Act [Chapter 29:12]?, Zimbabwe’s apex legislation pertaining to town-planning, which, is the metaphorical foundation from which the superstructure of real estate is erected.

Contact Information:

Makombe Building,

Corner Leopold Takawira and Herbert Chitepo Streets,

Harare

6. Cleveland Building, City of Harare (Department of Works):

There, verification of ?subdivision permits and certificates of compliance?for developments within Harare may be conducted.

Contact Information:

Corner Speke Avenue and Leopold Takawira Street,

92 Leopold Takawira Street, Harare

7. Civil Registry Department:

In extreme scenarios, to?authenticate identity documents of potential sellers, the Civil Registry Department may be called upon (typically via a notary public).

Contact Information:

Makombe Building,

Corner Herbert Chitepo Avenue and Leopold Takawira Street,

Harare.

8. Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development:

For rural and agricultural land, obtaining and verifying?a certificate of no present interest from this ministry prior to investment is a sine-qua-non.

Contact Information:

Ngungunyana Building,

1 Borrowdale Road, Harare.

9. Office of the Master of High Court:

Vital in ascertaining?the credentials and letters of administration?of executors in deceased estate sales, as well as ascertaining if the Master’s consent (according to section 120 of the?Administration of Estates Act [Chapter 6:01]?) has been obtained prior to purchasing immovable property under a deceased estate.

Contact Information:

Master’s House,

Corner Second Street and Herbert Chitepo Avenue,

Harare.

10. Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development:

Though housing co-operatives are fast being replaced by local authority pay-schemes (which are deemed safer for all involved) for?those increasingly rare?transactions involving housing co-operatives, tis’ imperative to ascertain that such entities?are registered with this ministry.

Contact Information:

6th?and 8th?Floors,

Kaguvi?Building,

Corner Central Avenue and 4th?Street,

Harare.

Part 2 of 2 Professional Bodies and Institutions which may be approached for Assistance:

If one is finding the going tough, or just not able to figure out or wrap their mind around something, as they conduct due diligence, consider consulting the following professional bodies and institutions for assistance.

11. Estate Agents Council of Zimbabwe (E.A.C.Z):

Registers and regulates estate agents, ensuring professional standards. They could assist?with due diligence or recommend reputable agents.

Contact Information:

18 McChlery Avenue, Harare

12. Real Estate Institute of Zimbabwe (R.E.I.Z):

A professional body aiming to promote high standards among real estate professionals. They?might?provide guidance and support for due diligence.

Contact Information:

Office 17, Mon Repos Building,

South Wing, Newlands Shopping Center,

Old Enterprise Road,

Harare

13. Valuers Council of Zimbabwe:

This body registers and regulates property valuers. They could be called upon to ?provide expert advice and support.

Contact Information:

Office Y122, Bay 3,

Zimbabwe National Sports Stadium,

Harare

-Worthy mentions:

Consider consulting the Zimbabwe Republic Police Criminal Investigation Department (ZRP C.I.D) for background checks?[chiefly through police clearance certificates], as well as ?the mortgage finance divisions of reputable banks for their due diligence expertise.

Contact Information:

Z.R.P C.I.D: Police General Headquarters,

Corner 7th Street and Josiah Chinamano Avenue, Harare.

Contact information:

Bankers Association of Zimbabwe: 14177 Gunhill Avenue, Gunhill, Harare.

Conclusion: Safety always:

Real estate transactions in Zimbabwe involve significant sums and require careful due diligence. Consulting the aforementioned?key offices and professional bodies are some of the reasonable steps one may take to be safe out there.

Good-speed.

Tatenda Kangwende is proud and honored to be, “Your friendly neighborhood realtor.” For assistance with serious business pertaining to real estate in Zimbabwe, reach him via:

Mobile (SMS, GSM calls, WhatsApp): +263 714 729 043

Email: [email protected]