A unique law allows Mozambique's illiterate peasants to claim their land rights without a shred of paper proof, eliminating skewed land distribution that deprived those without written title deeds. The Bill recognises land rights acquired through occupancy, with or without a title deed. This should prevent mass eviction of peasants and other negative effects of skewed land distribution, as happened in neighbouring countries.
Land continues to be the property of the state.
User rights and title deeds are granted to individuals, communities and businesses. User rights can be transferred or inherited, but not sold or mortgaged. A community is any group that defines itself as such - its members are those who sign their names to it. Land in use comprises cultivated land, hunting, fishing and collection territories and sacred places. This means that occupation of land over which somebody else holds title deeds will not be recognised.