What to do if someone dies in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe’s repatriation process has more administrative friction than comparable Southern African countries. Government department capacity is variable and procedural delays occur. An experienced local agent in Harare is the most important factor in managing the timeline effectively.

Step 1: Notify the British Embassy Harare

Address: Corner House, Samora Machel Avenue, Harare. Phone: +263 24 2338 800. FCDO 24-hour emergency: +44 1908 516666.

Zimbabwe is a Commonwealth member (rejoined December 2018), but the representative office is the British Embassy, not a High Commission.

Step 2: Registrar General’s Office: death registration

Deaths are registered at the Registrar General’s Office under the Civil Registry Act. The attending doctor certifies cause of death. Hospital deaths in Harare register more quickly than deaths in provincial towns or at tourist sites.

Step 3: Zimbabwe Republic Police investigation (unnatural deaths)

For unnatural, violent, or unexplained deaths, the Zimbabwe Republic Police investigate. The Attorney General’s Office must then authorise both the post-mortem order and the release of the body. Post-mortems are conducted at Harare Central Hospital’s Department of Forensic Medicine. The body cannot be embalmed or moved until the Attorney General’s authorisation is received. This step has variable timescales depending on caseload.

Step 4: Victoria Falls and national park deaths

Deaths at Victoria Falls or in Zimbabwe’s national parks (Hwange, Mana Pools, Gonarezhou) require an additional step: the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority must certify what occurred in the park before the Zimbabwe Republic Police can commence their investigation. For Victoria Falls activity deaths (bungee jumping, rafting, gorge walks), confirm which side of the border the death occurred on. The Zambian side is entirely separate with Zambian procedures.

Step 5: Ministry of Health and Child Care export permit

The Ministry of Health and Child Care issues the export permit. Required documents: Registrar General’s death certificate, Attorney General’s release order, Harare Central Hospital post-mortem report (if conducted), embalming certificate, freedom from contagious disease clearance. Allow five to eight working days for the permit.

Step 6: British Airways cargo to Heathrow

British Airways operates direct scheduled services from Harare Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport (HRE) to London Heathrow. Your specialist’s local agent coordinates the cargo booking. Source: FCDO guidance on death in Zimbabwe; Civil Registry Act (Zimbabwe); British Embassy Harare consular guidance (2023).