Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
THE Office of the Master of the High Court of Zimbabwe has recorded a more than 60 percent increase in the number of people seeking to regularise and finalise deceased estates over the past three months, as families rush to comply with a deadline that expires today (July 31).
The latest drive to clear outstanding estates mirrors the spirit of Operation Vhara File (Close File), launched by the Master of the High Court in March 2015 to encourage families and beneficiaries to conclude long-outstanding deceased estate matters and reduce administrative backlogs.
Three months ago, the Office of the Master issued a public notice directing individuals who registered deceased estates, appointed executors and administrators, as well as beneficiaries with an interest in registered estates, to visit the relevant Master of the High Court office on or before July 31 for guidance on the steps required to complete the administration process.
Stakeholders were also instructed to bring the deceased estate registration number (DR Number) or any correspondence previously issued by the Office of the Master relating to the estate.
The notice warned that failure to approach the office by the stipulated deadline could result in the Office of the Master taking steps to facilitate the finalisation of the estate in accordance with the law and established procedures.
In an interview on Monday, Master of the High Court Mr Eldard Mutasa said the response to the notice had been overwhelmingly positive, with visits to the offices increasing significantly.
“We have experienced an increase of more than 60 percent in the number of people coming forward to attend to their deceased estate matters since the notice was issued three months ago,” said Mr Mutasa.
He clarified that July 31 was not a deadline for all estates to have been fully concluded, but rather a call for affected individuals to engage with the Office of the Master and obtain guidance on the outstanding requirements.
“We are simply asking people to visit the Office of the Master of the High Court where their estate files are being administered so that they can receive assistance and finalise the necessary paperwork. We appreciate that some individuals may be facing financial or other challenges that can delay the completion of the process.
“The July 31 date was meant to encourage people to come forward and seek clarification on what still needs to be done. When we issued the notice, there had to be a timeframe within which people could respond, and that is why July 31 was included,” he said.
Mr Mutasa said the deadline remains in place and will guide the office’s next course of action in dealing with outstanding estates.
However, he stressed that those who fail to meet the deadline would not be automatically penalised or excluded from the estate administration process.
“For those who do not respond by July 31, we will engage them on a case-by-case basis. We will continue communicating with them through formal correspondence, advising them on the steps that need to be taken to complete the administration of the estate,” he said.
Mr Mutasa also moved to allay concerns circulating among members of the public that beneficiaries risked losing inherited assets if they fail to meet the deadline.
“No one will lose their property because of this process. No one’s property will be sold to cover the costs of finalising a deceased estate, whether the beneficiaries are widows, orphans or any other family members,” he said.
He further clarified that the Office of the Master does not appoint executors without family involvement.
“The appointment of an executor remains a family matter. Where an executor has passed away or is no longer able to perform the role, we advise family members to meet, discuss the matter and agree on a suitable replacement in line with the law,” said Mr Mutasa.
Despite today’s deadline, he encouraged members of the public with outstanding estate matters to continue approaching the Office of the Master for assistance.
“The important thing is for people to come forward and engage with the office. The process of regularising and finalising deceased estates continues beyond July 31, and our offices remain available to assist families in resolving outstanding issues,” said Mr Mutasa.
The deceased estate finalisation programme is aimed at ensuring that beneficiaries receive their entitlements timeously, while helping to clear long-standing estate administration backlogs and improve the efficient management of deceased estates across the country.
