BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ACT
Chapter 5:02
(c) if there are no such relatives as are referred to in paragraph (a) or (b), of—
(i) every person over the age of eighteen years present at the death; or
(ii) the occupier and every inmate over the age of eighteen years of the house in
which the death took place, where such occupier or inmate has knowledge of
the death; or
(iii) the headman appointed in terms of section 8 of the Chiefs and Headmen Act
[Chapter 29:01] for the community in which the death took place, where he
had knowledge of the death; or
(iv) every person over the age of eighteen years who has buried or caused to be
buried the body of the deceased person; or
(v) such other persons as may be prescribed;
to give notice of the death of such person in the prescribed form to the registrar of the district in
which such person died.
(2) The notice given in terms of subsection (1) shall be given as soon as possible but in
any case within thirty days of the death.
(3) The giving of notice by any of the responsible persons referred to in subsection (1)
shall be a discharge of the duty under that subsection of any other person referred to therein to
give notice of death.
(4) A medical practitioner who examined the body of the dead person or, if no such
examination occurred, a medical practitioner who attended the person during his last illness,
shall, unless he believes the death was not the result of natural causes, sign a certificate stating
the cause of death to the best of his knowledge and belief.
(5) The certificate referred to in subsection (4) shall be given to a responsible person
referred to in subsection (1) by the medical practitioner whose signature it bears by personal
delivery or registered post .
(6) A person referred to in subsection (1) who receives the medical certificate of the cause
of death given in terms of subsection (4) shall, as soon as is reasonably possible after receiving
the certificate, deliver it or cause it to be delivered to the registrar of the district where the death
occurred.
(7) Where the cause of death of a person whose death is required to be registered has
been—
(a) stated in a medical certificate; or
(b) determined by an inquest or other like proceedings;
or both, the registrar shall record in the register of deaths the cause of death so stated or
determined, as the case may be.
21 Registration of death occurring outside Zimbabwe of person on duty
(1) In the case of the death occurring outside Zimbabwe of a person who—
(a) was—
(i) a member of the Defence Forces or the Police Force; or
(ii) any person assisting the Defence Forces or the Police Force; or
(iii) any other person or class of persons that may be prescribed;
and
(b) died while performing his duties outside Zimbabwe;
notice of such death may be given to the Registrar-General, in the form and in the manner
prescribed, by any person or authority prescribed in relation to such person.
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