• Zambians must treat land as an important investment asset that can contribute to economic growth.
• Many citizens have been finding it a challenge to obtain title deeds from Ministry of Lands.
• Government should streamline the process of obtaining land titles.

An Investment Expert has encouraged Zambians to treat land as an important investment asset that can automatically contribute to the growth of the economy and change livelihoods.
Speaking in an interview with Money FM News, Retired Colonel Yusuf Michelo said many citizens in the country have been finding it a challenge to obtain title deeds from the Ministry of Lands, a situation which also deprives government of revenue through payment of land rates.
“So far in Zambia, I don’t believe that we have treated land as an investment asset that it ought to be. Let me just lament about the Ministry of Lands, how we are losing out on cashing in on land, we struggle to get titles from the Ministry of Lands,” Rtd Colonel Michelo said.
Rtd Colonel Michelo therefore called on government to streamline the process of obtaining land titles that will result into a broadened and improved revenue collecting capacity through land rates.
“When you have titles to land you pay rates, so why doesn’t the government streamline the process of issuing titles so that we can actually collect rates and improve our revenue as the debate around land is very huge,” he wondered.
He further said owning land titles gives an individual access to financial institutions which can be used as loan collateral to develop a piece of land for construction of various projects.