ZURRA Urges Government to Protect Vulnerable Families Over Deceased Estates Deadline

By Desire Tshuma

Harare – The Zimbabwe Union of Residents and Ratepayers Association (ZURRA) has appealed to the Government to adopt a more people-centred approach to the finalisation of registered deceased estates, warning that thousands of vulnerable families could be disadvantaged by the 31 July 2026 compliance deadline.

The call follows a recent public notice by the Master of the High Court directing beneficiaries, executors, administrators and other interested parties to complete the administration of registered deceased estates before the end of July.

While welcoming Government efforts to improve the administration of estates and speed up the transfer of inheritances, ZURRA said the current deadline does not adequately consider the harsh economic realities facing many Zimbabwean households.

Speaking on behalf of the association, ZURRA spokesperson Marvellous Kumalo said consultations conducted across the country revealed that financial constraints, rather than unwillingness to comply with the law, remain the biggest obstacle preventing families from completing estate administration.

“Our consultations indicate that many deceased estates remain unfinished not because beneficiaries are unwilling to comply with the law, nor because executors are negligent or incompetent. Rather, the principal challenge faced by many families is the financial burden associated with estate administration, including administration fees, valuation costs, transfer costs, conveyancing charges and other related expenses,” said Kumalo.

He said the burden falls most heavily on widows, pensioners, unemployed people, persons with disabilities, child-headed households and other low-income families whose inheritance often consists of a single residential property occupied by surviving relatives.

“In many cases, these families continue to reside in inherited homes while struggling to meet basic household needs, making it difficult to raise the resources required to complete the administration process,” he said.

Kumalo stressed that the administration of deceased estates should go beyond simply reducing the backlog of outstanding files.

“The objective of deceased estate administration should not merely be the effective closure of estate files, but also the protection of beneficiaries’ rights, preservation of family assets where practical, promotion of access to justice and safeguarding of residential homes occupied by surviving spouses, children and dependants,” he said.

ZURRA also called for greater transparency on what will happen after the expiry of the deadline, saying beneficiaries deserve clarity on the legal and administrative measures that may be taken by the Master of the High Court.

The association noted concerns that some estates could be transferred to independent professional executors, potentially increasing costs for already struggling beneficiaries.

Kumalo urged authorities to clearly explain the procedures that would be followed, the criteria for intervention and any financial implications for beneficiaries.

To ease the burden on residents while promoting compliance, ZURRA proposed several reforms. These include extending the 31 July deadline, introducing flexible payment plans for estate administration costs, amending the Administration of Estates Act to provide stronger protection for matrimonial homes and family residences, and rolling out decentralised public awareness campaigns across all provinces.

“While ZURRA supports efforts to reduce the backlog of unfinalised deceased estates and ensure beneficiaries receive their inheritances without undue delay, such efforts must be guided by the principles of fairness, transparency, accountability and social justice,” Kumalo said.

He called on the Government, Parliament, the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and the Office of the Master of the High Court to engage residents in developing practical solutions that balance efficient estate administration with the protection of beneficiaries’ rights and family homes.