A landmark legislation that grants title holders in rural areas the right to use the property as collateral was unanimously ratified by Parliament last week. It primarily focuses on extending access to finance for farmers and pastoralists, through a structured land title system. It also introduces criminal penalties for the illegal transfer of property. Replacing the 18-year-old proclamation for rural land management, the law sentences individuals engaging in land invasions and unauthorised transfers to up to five years in prison. The decision came after nearly 22 rounds of discussions with several players. The proclamation grants regional states the authority to formulate their standards on how property on rural land may be transferred following their respective regional master plans. Some MPs expressed concerns about provisions that give second and third wives access to shares in the property, potentially greenlighting polygamous relationships. Solomon Lale, chairman of the Standing Committee for Agricultural Affairs, assured Parliamentarians that it reflects the realities of rural communities in Ethiopia and avoids revisions to family law. "This is a property law, not a marriage one," he said.
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