Introduce pictures to cut down on land fraud

Few things have as much potential for unlocking this country’s wealth as land reform. While a land policy is needed for many of the changes involved, there are things that can be done right away to reduce fraud and let smallholders raise capital by borrowing against their property. These include simplifying authentication of ownership documents and keeping track of parties involved in transactions.

Computerisation of the registry may not prevent fraud, but it will make authentication searches faster and easier. This should make deception more difficult. It will also improve borrowing because more property will be registered and lenders will easily determine the authenticity of most documents. Finally, it will reduce the number of missing files, lost or hidden and make audits easier. This week’s search of stolen, misplaced or lost files will take up a whole week of the land registry’s time. If computerised, this would only take a fraction of the time, improving service.

The key to stamping out fraud, however, is as simple as requiring photographs of buyers and sellers along with payments of stamp duty. Too many instances of forgeries and impersonation are rep-orted each year.

Increasing transparency in the land registry by ensuring records are complete, easily searched and insulated from fraud techniques most commonly used will release the trapped capital in the country’s land. This could have an impact greater than aid or Government spending on the economy. It cannot wait for policy.