Zimbabwe
A well developed and functioning civil registration system ensures the registration of all vital events including births, marriages and deaths and issues relevant certificates as proof of such registration. Civil registration promotes efficient government planning, effective use of resources and aid, and more accurate monitoring of progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Birth Registration
| Legal framework for birth registration | Birth and Death Registration Act, Chapter 5:02 |
| Official authorities in charge of registering births | Ministry of Home Affairs, Department of Registrar General |
| Organizational structure | Centralized |
| Is there a legal obligation to register the birth of a child? | Yes |
| Is an official birth certificate issued as a result of birth registration? | Yes, but not immediately |
| Legal informant to register a birth | The parents, Occupier of the house, Health staff, Any witness [of the birth] aged 18 years or older |
| Time allowed for registration | 42 days |
| Fee for birth registration | No |
| Can the fee be increased or waived? | Yes, fees may be waived |
| Fee for birth certificate | No |
| Penalty for late registration | No |
| Other official fees involved in the birth registration process | No |
| Requirements or fees specific to children who are eligible for citizenship but were born outside the country | No |
| Requirements or fees specific to children whose parents are foreign nationals | No |
| Requirements for birth registration | Marriage certificate or proof of marriage, Birth notification, Name of the child |
| Information collected | Regarding the child: Name, Date of birth, Sex, Weight at birth, Ethnicity, Date of registration, Place of occurrence [of the birth], Place of registration
Regarding the mother of the child: Marital status, Date of marriage Ethnicity, Place of usual residence, Birth (or parity) order Regarding the father of the child: Marital status, Date of marriage, Ethnicity, Place of usual residence |
| Processing | Manually (on paper), Electronically (via computer or tablet) |
| Place of registration | Civil registrar’s office, Hospital/health centre (any in the country) |
| A birth certificate is required for: | Identification, Travel, Education, Voting, Inheritance, Obtaining social assistance |
| Process for establishing vital statistics on births | The Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) is responsible for vital statistics; it is currently processing data on birth registration from 2009–2014. |
Data sources: Information on civil registration systems was compiled over a period from December 2016 to November 2017 using the existing relevant legal frameworks and in consultation with CRVS experts, officials within the relevant national institutions, and UNICEF country offices. All reasonable precautions have been taken by UNICEF to verify this country profile; updates will be made to reflect changes in policy and implementation and/or new information.
Marriage Registration
| Legal framework for marriage registration | Marriage Act, Chapter 5:11
Customary Marriages Act, Chapter 5:07 |
| Official authorities in charge of registering a marriage | Ministry of Home Affairs, Department of Registrar General Office |
| Organizational structure | Centralized |
| Legal age for marriage | 18 years for males and females |
| Is there a legal obligation to register marriages? | Yes |
| Is an official marriage certificate issued as a result of marriage registration? | Yes |
| Legal informant to register a marriage | Spouses |
| Time allowed for registration | Immediately |
| Fee for marriage registration | Yes |
| Can the fee be increased or waived? | – |
| Fee for marriage certificate | – |
| Penalty for late registration | – |
| Other official fees involved in the marriage registration process | – |
| Additional registration requirements or fees if one spouse was born outside the country or has dual citizenship | – |
| Requirements for marriage registration | Husband’s and wife’s presence, Proof of age of groom and bride |
| Information collected | Regarding the spouses: Date of birth or age of the bride, Place of usual residence of bride, Date of birth or age of the groom, Place of usual residence of groom
Regarding the marriage: Date of occurrence, Date of registration, Place of occurrence, Place of registration |
| Processing | Manually (on paper), Electronically (via computer or tablet) |
| Place of registration | Civil registrar’s office |
| A marriage certificate is required for: | – |
| Process for establishing vital statistics on marriage | The Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) is responsible for vital statistics. |
Download sample marriage certificate
Data sources: Information on civil registration systems was compiled over a period from December 2016 to November 2017 using the existing relevant legal frameworks and in consultation with CRVS experts, officials within the relevant national institutions, and UNICEF country offices. All reasonable precautions have been taken by UNICEF to verify this country profile; updates will be made to reflect changes in policy and implementation and/or new information.
Death Registration
| Legal framework for death registration | Birth and Death Registration Act, Chapter 5:02 |
| Official authorities in charge of registering a death | Ministry of Home Affairs, Department of Registrar General |
| Organizational structure | Centralized |
| Is there a legal obligation to register deaths? | Yes |
| Is an official death certificate issued as a result of death registration? | Yes |
| Legal informant to register a death | Relative of the deceased aged 18 years or older, Any occupier/inmate aged 18 years or older of the house in which the death occurred, Village head, Chief, Councillor, etc. |
| Time allowed for registration | 30 days |
| Fee for death registration | No |
| Can the fee be increased or waived? | No |
| Fee for death certificate | No |
| Penalty for late registration | No |
| Other official fees involved in the death registration process | No |
| Registration requirements or fees specific for the deaths of people who were residents in the country and also of foreign nationality | No |
| Requirements for death registration | Medical certificate, Traditional leader notification letter in cases of natural causes death in rural areas |
| Information collected | Regarding the deceased: Name, Sex, Date of birth or age, Marital status, Place of usual residence, Occupation
Regarding the death: Date of death, Place of occurrence of the death, Date of registration, Place of registration, Cause of death, Certifier |
| Information collected in case of fetal death | Date of occurrence of fetal delivery, Date of registration, Place of occurrence, Place of registration, Sex of the fetus |
| Processing | Manually (on paper), Electronically (via computer or tablet) |
| Place of registration | Civil registrar’s office, Hospital/health centre (any in the country) |
| A death certificate is required for: | Processing of inheritance, Change of ownership of movable and immovable property, Claiming insurance, Resolution of deceased’s estate, etc. |
| Process for establishing vital statistics on deaths | The Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) is responsible for vital statistics. |
Data sources: Information on civil registration systems was compiled over a period from December 2016 to November 2017 using the existing relevant legal frameworks and in consultation with CRVS experts, officials within the relevant national institutions, and UNICEF country offices. All reasonable precautions have been taken by UNICEF to verify this country profile; updates will be made to reflect changes in policy and implementation and/or new information.