Births and Deaths Registration Act 23. Zimbabwe Duty of registrar in case of death of person not attended by medical practitioner (1) In the case of the death of any person who was not attended during his last illness by a medical practitioner, the registrar to whom notice of the death is given shall, if no inquest has been or is being instituted and no criminal proceedings have been or are being instituted in relation to the death, make such inquiry into the cause of the death as he thinks necessary and for such purposes may direct in writing any person to appear before the registrar on a date, being not less than seven days, after receipt of the written direction, and at a place specified in the written direction, and give to the best of his knowledge and ability such information as may be in his possession as to the cause of death of such person. (2) If, after making any inquiry referred to in subsection (1), the registrar is not satisfied that death was due to natural causes, he shall forthwith report the matter to a coroner. [section 23 amended by section 20(2)(b) of Chapter 7:21] 24. Powers of Registrar-General and registrars (1) On receipt of any notice of birth, still-birth or death the registrar in each district shall examine such notice and cause any defect or inaccuracy therein to be remedied or corrected and, for such purpose, may direct in writing that the responsible person appear before the registrar on a date, being not less than seven days after receipt of the written direction, and at a place specified in the written direction, and give to the best of his knowledge and ability such information as may be in his possession as to the birth, still-birth or death. (2) If, owing to the default of the responsible person, a birth, still-birth or death is not registered before the expiry of the appropriate period provided in this Act, the registrar may direct in writing any person to appear before the registrar on a date, being not less than seven days after receipt of the written direction, and at a place specified in the written direction, and give to the best of his knowledge and ability notice of the birth, still-birth or death in the prescribed form: Provided that— 25. (i) no such written direction shall be given in relation to a death with respect to which an inquest has been held; (ii) such written direction shall cease to have effect if the birth, still-birth or death is registered before the person to whom the written direction relates has complied therewith. Registration of birth, still-birth or death after twelve months (1) No birth, still-birth or death which occurs after the 20th June, 1986 shall be registered after the expiry of twelve months from the date of such birth, still-birth or death except with the written authority of the Registrar-General. (2) If the Registrar-General refuses to give written authority for the registration of a birth, stillbirth or death in terms of subsection (1) he shall, if so requested by the person applying for such registration, refer the matter to the Minister whose decision shall be final: Provided that, where a court in consideration of a case in terms of section twenty-seven, orders that the registration of the birth, still-birth or death of a person be effected, the Registrar-General shall register such birth, still-birth or death. (3) The Registrar-General may delegate the functions conferred on him by this section to a registrar in respect of births, still-births and deaths occurring in the district of that registrar. By Laws.Africa and contributors. Licensed under CC-BY. Share widely and freely. 9