Centre News Hub
HARARE- The Zimbabwe Union of Residents and Ratepayers Associations (ZURRA) has called on Government to extend the 31 July 2026 deadline for finalising registered deceased estates, warning that the current timeframe could push vulnerable households deeper into hardship.
ZURRA is also pushing for payment plans and legislative reform to protect families and matrimonial homes.
Support for Backlog Clearance, But With Caution
In a statement, ZURRA said it supports efforts by the Master of the High Court to clear the backlog of unfinalised estates and ensure beneficiaries receive their inheritances without delay.
“A people-centered approach is needed to avoid penalising families already struggling financially,” said ZURRA spokesperson, Marvellous Kumalo.
“Efficient estate administration is essential to promote legal certainty, protect property rights, and ensure beneficiaries enjoy the fruits of their inheritance without unnecessary delay.”
Kumalo said consultations with residents and beneficiaries across Zimbabwe revealed that the deadline may disproportionately affect vulnerable households facing severe socio-economic challenges.
Cost Cited as Main Barrier
According to ZURRA, many estates remain unfinished not because beneficiaries are unwilling to comply or executors are negligent, but because of the financial burden.
“People cited costs including Master’s and independent executors’ fees, valuation costs, transfer costs, conveyancing charges and other related expenses as a major challenge,” ZURRA said.
“Widows, pensioners, unemployed persons, persons with disabilities, child-headed households and low-income families whose primary inheritance is a single residential property occupied by surviving family members are the most affected.”
Calls for Clarity and Protection
ZURRA said the objective of estate administration should go beyond closing files to include protecting beneficiaries’ rights, preserving family assets where possible, and safeguarding homes occupied by surviving spouses, children and dependents.
The residents’ body also called for clarity on what measures the Master may take after the deadline.
“The public notice states the Master may take steps to facilitate finalisation after 31 July 2026. This could include replacing current executors with independent professional executors in terms of the Administration of Estates Act. The public should be fully informed of the procedures, criteria and potential costs involved,” Kumalo said.
Key Recommendations
To promote compliance while protecting residents from undue hardship, ZURRA proposed:
Payment Plans- Allow beneficiaries to enter into practical, flexible written payment arrangements
Deadline Extension-Extend the compliance deadline beyond 31 July 2026 to give beneficiaries a realistic opportunity given current economic conditions
Legal Reform- Amend the Administration of Estates Act and related laws to provide special protection for matrimonial homes and single residential properties occupied by surviving spouses, children and dependents
Public Outreach- Launch decentralised, provincial outreach programmes to clearly communicate estate finalisation procedures and eliminate confusion
“While ZURRA supports efforts to reduce the backlog and ensure beneficiaries receive their inheritances without undue delay, such efforts must be guided by fairness, transparency, accountability and social justice,” Kumalo added.
ZURRA has urged 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 and inclusive solutions that balance administrative efficiency with the protection of beneficiaries’ rights and family homes.
