BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ACT
Chapter 5:02
(b) born in wedlock if his parents were married to each other at the time of his conception
or birth, or have subsequently married each other;
and, for the purpose of determining whether or not such a person’s parents were or have been
married to each other, a putative or voidable marriage shall be regarded as a valid marriage.
PART II
REGISTRARS AND REGISTERS
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Registrar-General and registrars
Subject to the laws relating to the Public Service, there shall be—
(a) a Registrar-General of Births and Deaths whose office shall be the central registering
office for all notices of births, still-births and deaths and for all such returns as are
required in terms of this Act; and
(b) a registrar for each district; and
(c) such deputy registrars and assistant registrars as are necessary.
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Registrars to keep and maintain registers and to forward notices to
Registrar-General
(1) A registrar shall keep and maintain registers in the prescribed form in which he shall
register the birth, still-birth or death of any person which has occurred in his district and of
which he has received notice in the prescribed form.
(2) A registrar shall sign and forward to the Registrar-General, by registered post within
the time prescribed, all notices of births, still-births or deaths and all medical certificates of the
causes of death, together with all other documents relating thereto, received by him.
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Registrar-General to keep and maintain registers
The Registrar-General shall keep and maintain registers in which he shall register the birth,
still-birth or death of any person of which he has received notice in terms of this Act.
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Certified copies of entries
(1) The Registrar-General or a registrar may, upon receipt of payment of the prescribed
fee, issue to an applicant a certified copy of any entry in any register in his custody.
(2) The Registrar-General or a registrar may—
(a) refuse to issue a certified copy of any entry referred to in subsection (1) where he is
not satisfied that such copy is required for a lawful purpose; or
(b) issue a limited number of certified copies of any entry referred to in subsection (1) to
an applicant.
(3) If any person is aggrieved by a decision in terms of subsection (2), he may appeal—
(a) in the case of a decision by a registrar, to the Registrar-General; or
(b) in the case of a decision by the Registrar-General, to the Minister, whose decision
shall be final.
(4) Notwithstanding subsection (1), a certified copy of any entry in any register may be
issued to a representative or official of the government of any country other than Zimbabwe in
the course of his official duties, without payment of the prescribed fee.
(5) Unless otherwise directed by the Minister to whom the administration of the Children’s
Protection and Adoption Act [Chapter 5:06] has been assigned, a certified copy of an entry in
any register issued in terms of subsection (1) in respect of a child adopted in terms of that Act
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