THE National Council Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Housing has recommended the digitalisation of land registration and administration systems to improve efficiency, transparency, and accessibility of services
A report compiled by committee chairperson Alfeus Abraham, following a recent benchmarking visit to Rwanda, notes that the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, as well as local authorities, must develop and strictly enforce a national land-use masterplan.
The masterplan will guide coordinated urban development, prevent illegal land grabbing, and optimise land allocation across sectors, notes the report.
“The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development, in collaboration with all local authorities, must adopt a flexible co-ownership housing model for the urban poor, to prevent asset loss and promote long-term financial stability,” the committee notes.The report further calls on the government to fully service informal settlement land under flexible tenure arrangements.
The committee recommends that the state provides subsidies to support access to adequate housing and infrastructure for the urban poor and landless.
“The government should subsidise local authorities in terms of land servicing for housing development to lower costs and enhance the availability of affordable housing for underserved populations.”The report further notes that major local authorities, with the support of the central government, should introduce a structured rehousing programme to redevelop informal settlements without displacing residents.
The committee recommends that the government incentivises and facilitates private-sector partnerships through land-sharing schemes and collaborative models to improve land access for marginalised communities.
“All land developed under the Flexible Land Tenure Act should remain state- owned, with occupants granted rights of use rather than ownership through
purchase.
“Local authorities should be empowered by the state to streamline land delivery processes and minimise the involvement of middlemen, ensuring
more efficient and transparent access to land for communities,“ the report adds.
COMMENTS