Zimbabwe, Death Registers, 1890-1977; Index to Death Register, 1892-1977

What is in This Collection?

This collection contains images and indexes to registers of deaths of citizens of Rhodesia; as per The Executor's Accounts Act of 1864; The Administration of Estates Ordinance No. 6 of 1907; The Administration of Estates Act, Chapter 47, 1952; and Chapter 51, 1965.

Zimbabwe was formerly known as Southern Rhodesia and became independent from Great Britain 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 Harare. From 1965 to 1979 Zimbabwe was known as Rhodesia.

The Death Registers are printed indexes of the names of deceased. Each entry may have the following abbreviations:

• ADM - Administration
• DR - Death Register
• W - Will

The abbreviation D.R. is followed by the volume number/page number. It appears those records that are labeled ADM are probably administrations which are separate from the death registers and contain wills and living trust records.

After locating the entry for an individual by surname in an index, the death record can be found in the Death registers by using the reference information provided in the index.

Additional records and/or images may be added to this collection in the future.

To Browse This Collection

What Can These Records Tell Me?

The following information may be found in these records:

Collection Content

Sample Images

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  Death Notice, 1965