4 Office of record (1) The office of the Master shall be an office of record for that part of Zimbabwe defined in the First Schedule and the office of the Assistant Master shall be an office of record for the remainder of Zimbabwe: Provided that such of the records filed in the office of the Assistant Master as the Master may specify shall, if the Master so directs, be transferred for safekeeping to the office of the Master or such other central office of record as he may specify. (2) Any provision of this Act or any other enactment which requires any document to be lodged with the Master shall— (a) if such document relates to a death which occurred outside the area defined in the First Schedule or to the death of a person who at the time of his death was ordinarily residing outside such area; or (b) if such document is required to be lodged by a person residing outside such area; be read and construed as requiring such document to be lodged with the Assistant Master. PART III ESTATES OF D ECEASED P ERSONS Death Notices Death notices to Master, Assistant Master or magistrate (1) Whenever any person dies leaving any property in possession, reversion or expectancy or leaving a will, the nearest relative or connection of the deceased who is at or near the place of death, or in default of any such near relative or connection, the person who at or immediately after the death has the chief charge of the house in or of the place on which the death occurs shall, within fourteen days thereafter, cause a notice of death to be framed in the form A in the Second Schedule, and shall cause that notice, signed by himself, to be delivered or transmitted— (a) if the death occurs in Harare or the district thereof, to the Master; (b) if the death occurs in Bulawayo or the district thereof, to the Assistant Master; (c) if the death occurs in any other district, to the magistrate for that district. A notice delivered or transmitted under this subsection to the Master or Assistant Master shall in all cases be accompanied by a duplicate or fair and true copy thereof and, if delivered or transmitted to a magistrate, by two duplicate or fair and true copies thereof. (2) Every magistrate to whom such notice as aforesaid is given shall cause the duplicate copy thereof to be examined and compared with the original, and if need be corrected, and shall authenticate such duplicate or copy with his signature. (3) The magistrate shall file and register the same and shall forthwith transmit the original notice— (a) to the Master if the death occurred within the area defined in the First Schedule; (b) to the Assistant Master if the death occurred outside the area defined in the First Schedule. (3a) Any person who, without just cause, fails to comply with subsections (1) to (3) shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level one or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one month or to both such fine and such imprisonment. 5 [Subsection inserted by section 4 of Act 22 of 2001.] (4) If it appears that the person signing the death notice was not present at the death, the Master may call upon such person for proof of death. 6 If death notice defective executor to furnish further information (1) If the information in any death notice is defective or insufficient, the Master may call upon any executor, after his appointment, to furnish such further information as may be required, and every executor so called upon shall without delay return his written answers to such questions as the Master may put for that purpose. (2) An executor who, without just cause, fails to comply with subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level four or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months or to both such fine and such imprisonment. [Subsection inserted by section 4 of Act 22 of 2001.] Wills 7 Deposit of wills with Master (1) Any person may deposit with the Master or Assistant Master, either open or enclosed under a sealed cover, any will, codicil or testamentary instrument executed by him. (2) The Master and the Assistant Master shall each keep, or cause to be kept, a register of the names and descriptions of the persons depositing with him every such deed, and the date on which it was so deposited. (3) Every such deed shall be accompanied by a duplicate or fair and true copy thereof, which, together with the original, shall be kept under the charge and custody of the Master or Assistant Master, as the case may be,