The Sunday Mail
Lincoln Towindo
First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa yesterday concluded her countrywide tour of stakeholder engagement on inheritance in Marondera, where she called for vigorous public awareness on inheritance laws.
The First Lady led a team of administrative and legal experts to Ruware Primary School where scores of people were led through the country’s laws on Will writing, execution of deceased’s estate and inheritance.
The countrywide tour attracted experts from the Law Society of Zimbabwe, the Office of the President and Cabinet, Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Master of the High Court, and the Council of Estate Administrators. In her brief remarks, Amai Mnangagwa said her office had been inundated with inquiries from individuals seeking advice on inheritance matters.
“Mashonaland East was the only province left on our tour of all ten provinces that I visited,” she said.
“We went around all provinces since last year and today we are concluding the tour here. We are here today to learn about inheritance; this issue has been very problematic for many women who have lost their properties to in-laws because they do not know where to get recourse and what the law says.
“My office has been overwhelmed by pleas for assistance from scores of people and that is why we decided to have a programme where we would go around the country and teach people about inheritance laws.
“But because I am not an expert in these matters, I looked for experts who will teach you about these issues.
“This programme is not for women only, but it is also for men.
“Programmes such as this one help to spread knowledge and will assist in the way we relate to each other in our families.”
One of the experts, Mr Charles Manhiri a director in the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs said Government was amending the country’s marriage statutes to provide for more rights for women and children.
He said authorities had set up the Legal Aid department to provide for free legal assistance, including free of charge assistance on inheritance matters for the underprivileged.
Council of Estate Administrators, Pauline Mandigo explained the work of estate executors.
“Following the death of a spouse you have to register the estate at the master of High Court or a magistrates court.
“The Master will publish a notice in the newspaper inviting people to what is known as an edict meeting.
“It is at this edict meeting to select an executor. It is at this meeting that you may discover, in the case of a male spouse’s death, that he may have had some children out of wedlock and those who were owed money by the deceased.
“At this meeting the living spouse is given first preference to become the executor.”
Master of High Court Mr Eldard Mutasa said when a person passes on and the surviving spouse was married in terms of The Marriages Act (5:11), they must to go to the High Court and if the marriage was under 5:07, they either go to the Master’s office or the magistrates court.
The event was attended by Minister of State for Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs Appolonia Munzverengi, Senate President Mabel Chinomona and other senior officials.
