Zimbabwe, Death Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

Title in the Language of the Records
This section of the article is incomplete. You can help FamilySearch Wiki by supplying a translation of the title in the language of the collection here.

Collection Time Period
The collection covers the time period from 1890-1977.

Record Description
The records included in this collection consist of death notices and registers obtained from the National Archives at Harare and Salisbury, Zimbabwe. The collection includes indexes of closed and open files.

Record Content
The Zimbabwe death notices and registers contain valuable genealogical information, including:


 * Full name
 * Sex
 * Place of Residence
 * Age
 * Race
 * Birthplace
 * Marital Status
 * Date of Marriage (if applicable)
 * Number of Children
 * Occupation
 * Date of Death
 * Place of Death
 * Intended Burial Location
 * Cause of Death
 * Duration of Last Illness
 * Medical Man's Name and Residence
 * Informant
 * Qualification
 * Residence
 * Witness
 * Property left by the Deceased

How to Use the Record
This civil registration record shows the deaths occuring in Zimbabwe between (and including) 1904-1976. This information can assist those searching for death dates of family members who passed away in Zimbabwe during this time period.

Record History
Zimbabwe was formerly known as Southern Rhodesia and became independent from England on April 18, 1980. Even though civil registration was established in 1890 it did not become mandatory until after independence. Birth registration began in 1891 and death registration in 1904. Birth and death registrations did not include African tribal members until 1963.

Birth and death certificates are currently registered through District Registries in each town or city, but all records are kept at the National Archives in the capital city of Harare, formerly known as Salisbury. The address for the archives is at The Ministry of Home Affairs - Zimbabwe. Marriage certificates are also recorded.

Why the Record Was Created
Registers of deaths of citizens of Rhodesia were created due to several laws (listed below) regarding vital records:


 * The Executor's Accounts Act of 1864
 * The Administration of Estates Ordinance No. 6 of 1907
 * The Administration of Estates Act, Chapter 47 of 1952, and Chapter 51 of 1965

Record Reliability
The records in this collection are generally reliable, although they contain some problems, as listed further along this article.

Related Websites

 * Rhodesian Roll of Honour
 * Zimbabwe GenWeb Project

Related Wiki Articles
Zimbabwe

Known Issues with This Collection
The indexes are annotated differently for the years 1892-1952 and the years 1953-1976. For a full list of all known issues associated with this collection, please read the attached Wiki article.

If you encounter additional problems, feel free to report them at [mailto:support@familysearch.org support@familysearch.org]. Please include the full path to the link and a description of the problem in your e-mail. Your assistance will help ensure that future reworks will be considered.

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
When you copy information from a record, you should also list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records.

A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the Wiki Article: Help:How to Create Source Citations For FamilySearch Historical Records Collections.

Examples of Source Citations for a Record in This Collection

 * "Zimbabwe, Death Notices, 1904-1976." index and images, FamilySearch:  ( www.familysearch.org: accessed 13 April 2011). entry for Nkwakwaliki Nuleya, died 23 January 1964; citing Death Notices, Beitbridge, Death Notices 1964, Vol. 1, Image 2; National Archives of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe.
 * "Zimbabwe, Death Registers, 1890-1977;" index and images,FamilySearch: (https://www.familysearch.org: accessed 13 April 2011). entry for Robert Austin, died 22 December 1981; citing Death Registers, Death Registers, 1890-1896, Vol. 1, Image 2; National Archives of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe.

Sources of Information for This Collection
Zimbabwe, Death notices, 1904-1976. Index and Images. FamilySearch. familysearch.org: National Archives of Zimbabwe. Citing Death notices. National Archives of Zimbabwe, Harare. FHL microfilm. Family History Library. Salt Lake City, Utah.

The format for citing FamilySearch Historical Collections, including how to cite individual archives is found in the following link: How to Create Source Citations for FamilySearch Historical Records Collections.