The deeds office in Namibia successfully registered and archived 25,177 title deeds and other deed documents during the 2025/26 financial year. This initiative is part of a broader effort to digitise property records, enhancing the efficiency and accessibility of property information. The ministry of agriculture, fisheries, water and land reform reported that in addition to these registrations, 14,619 transfer and bond deed documents were captured.
Further details from the ministry's annual performance report indicate that 8,198 sectional titles were registered and filed during the financial year. This brings the total number of property documents managed by the deeds office to a substantial figure, reflecting the government's commitment to improving land management and property registration processes. The ministry also reported collecting N$4.1 million in revenue from providing stakeholders with information relating to immovable and movable properties.
The ministry's land management programme also made significant progress, with 529 volumes of registered deeds and sectional title documents bound and archived. These documents covered 75 schemes, comprising various types of volumes including transfer, bond, VA, antenuptial contract, K, PA, and BC volumes. This archiving effort is crucial for maintaining an organised and accessible record of property documents.
In line with its digitisation goals, the ministry revised its performance targets to focus on capturing and scanning deed documents and real property rights. The redevelopment of the Deeds Electronic System is a key component of this strategy. During the reporting period, the digitisation project achieved 20% of its revised target, with system change requests implemented and specifications for user training, data cleaning, and system population finalised.
The ministry also completed procurement for activities related to the digitisation project and provided practical training on the Computerised Deeds Registration System to ministry staff and conveyancers. Historical statistics on deeds and property rights were compiled to support further digitisation and a request for temporary staff. These efforts aim to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of property registration processes.
In addition to its work on property registration, the ministry acquired 24 farms covering 95,535.1456 hectares at a total cost of N$238.7 million for resettlement and agricultural development. The ministry also registered a total of 6,298 communal land rights during the financial year, with Omusati recording the highest number at 1,772. Other regions also saw significant numbers of communal land rights registered.
The ministry made further progress under the Flexible Land Tenure System, handing over 175 landhold titles to beneficiaries in Outapi. It also facilitated the surveying and approval of land portions in several areas and issued 36 certificates of registered titles for block erven. Additionally, the ministry reported advancements in Namibia's geodetic infrastructure, including the erection of new boundary monuments along the Namibia-Zambia international boundary.
Key points
- The deeds office registered 25,177 property documents during the 2025/26 financial year.
- The ministry collected N$4.1 million in revenue from providing stakeholders with information relating to immovable and movable properties.
- The digitisation project achieved 20% of its revised target during the reporting period.
