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Know the Law with Lenon Rwizi, 43 Baines Avenue, Harare (2026)

16/10/2026

Before you paying for an immovable property in Zimbabwe, please do a thorough due diligence process…
You’ll thank me later…

15/10/2026

Are you contemplating divorce or already going through divorce proceedings and looking for information on how to go about it?

A divorce may either be contested or uncontested. An uncontested divorce is when both parties agree that their marriage has irretrievably broken down and settle with regards to the custody of their minors, maintenance and the distribution of property.

On the other hand, in a contested divorce the parties are adversarial and unable to agree on the terms of the divorce. Common areas of disagreement include but are not limited to; the grounds for divorce, custody, access, distribution of property and maintenance. However, at any point, a contested divorce can become uncontested if the parties agree to all the issues. An uncontested divorce is less time-consuming and not as expensive as a contested divorce.

Important Steps to Consider:

a. Where do I start if I want to institute divorce proceedings?

Engage a well informed and knowledgeable lawyer preferably someone who specializes in family law.

b. What information is needed when filing for divorce?

The original marriage certificate
The physical and or email address of the defendant (person being sued)
The grounds for divorce
The names and dates of minor children born of the marriage
A list of the assets of the parties
Who will have custody of the children upon divorce
The amount of access the non-custodian parent will have to the children upon
divorce.
The amount of maintenance payable by the non-custodian parent per month per
child.
How the assets of the parties will be shared.

c. How does the court determine custody?

The court looks at the best interests of the child(ren).

d. Is it possible for parties to be granted a divorce order without attending court?

Yes. That is possible if the divorce proceedings are uncontested.

e. Can I institute divorce proceedings from the diaspora?

Yes. A Zimbabwean based lawyer can do that for you.

d. If I am in Zimbabwe, can I divorce someone who is out of Zimbabwe?

Yes

f. Should parties separate first before divorcing?

No. Separation before divorce is not a legal requirement.

g. How long does the divorce process take?

The time taken to process a divorce depends on such factors as:

Whether the divorce proceedings are contested or uncontested.

Whether there will be need to obtain the court’s permission to have the divorce
summons served outside the country.

Whether there will be need to apply to court to have the divorce summons served by other means.

In contested divorce proceedings, the level of experience of the lawyer handling the case
The co-operation of the parties.

Conclusion

If parties to a marriage are in agreement that their marriage has irretrievably broken down or one of the spouses has an incurable mental illness or has been continuously unconscious, the divorce will proceed as an uncontested divorce. If they are not in agreement either of the parties may contest the divorce. During the divorce proceedings, the court will decide on the custody of their minors, maintenance and the distribution of property.

Whether you settle for a contested or uncontested divorce you will require legal representation.

The above does not constitute holistic legal advice. You can contact on 0774159146 - 0713967341 for more concise and applicable advice pertaining to any peculiar circumstances.

14/10/2026

Their “small” legal issue be sounding very urgent until you mention a consultation fee
😂😂

12/10/2026

Step-by-step process for appealing criminal convictions and sentences in Zimbabwe. Important information for unrepresented litigants.

1. An accused person who has been convicted by the Magistrates Court and wishes to appeal to the High Court against both conviction and sentence is required to note their appeal within ten (10) days of the said conviction.

2. In respect of an appeal against the sentence only, he or she must do so within five days of the passing of the sentence.

3. The first step is to approach the office of the Clerk of the Court with four copies of the Notice of his or her appeal for stamping by the Clerk of the Court, or visit an E-Filing to be assisted to lodge their Notice with the Clerk electronically.

4. Thereafter, the convicted or accused person shall approach the National Prosecuting Authority for serving of the Notice. He or she must make sure that the Notice is duly stamped by the NPA.

5. The convicted person must create an IECMS account and upload scanned copies of the Notice of Appeal to the High Court Registrar through the system.

6. The Registrar upon checking compliance with the Rules shall confirm the appeal, stamp the notice and allocate a case number for the Appeal.

7. The accused convicted or accused person shall download a copy of the stamped notice of appeal and submit it to the Clerk of the Court for further management.

Lenon Itai Rwizi is a Registered Legal Practitioner of the Superior Courts of Zimbabwe and can be contacted on: +263 774 159 146 or +263 713 967 341 [email protected]. The above does not constitute formal legal advice, and neither does it create any type of attorney-client relationship. Please seek legal advice from your own by contacting the writer https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057530166769 or any attorney of your choice.

08/10/2026

UNCONTESTED DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS IN ZIMBABWE

WHAT IS AN UNCONTESTED DIVORCE?

Divorce proceedings are said to be uncontested when the parties to the marriage are agreed on all issues to do with the divorce. This means that the parties must agree on the following:
1. (i) That the marriage has irretrievably broken down to such an extent as to be incompatible with the continuation of a normal marital relationship
2. (ii) Who will have custody of the minor children of the marriage, if any
3. (iii) The access or visitation rights which the non-custodian parent will have to the minor children
4. (iv) The amount of maintenance the non-custodian parent will contribute monthly towards the upkeep of the minor children
5. (v) How the assets of the parties will be shared upon divorce.
INSTITUTING THE DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS
Divorce proceedings are initiated by way of action proceedings. This means that they are initiated by way of a summons and not a court application. The party initiating the divorce proceedings is called the plaintiff whilst the party against whom the divorce proceedings are brought is called the defendant. Attached to the summons will be a Declaration. A Declaration is a written statement which the plaintiff submits to the court setting out the following:
1. (i) The names and physical addresses of the parties
2. (ii) The type of marriage the parties have, when and where they got married
3. (iii) The basis upon which the court has jurisdiction to entertain the matter
4. (iv) The grounds for divorce
5. (v) The names and dates of birth of minor children born of the marriage
6. (vi) Who will have custody of the minor children of the marriage upon divorce
7. (vii) How much the non-custodian parent will contribute monthly towards the upkeep of the minor children until they reach the age of majority or become self-sufficient, whichever occurs first.
8. (viii) The access/visitation rights which the non-custodian parent will have to the minor children of the marriage
9. (ix) How the assets of the parties will be shared upon divorce
SERVICE OF THE DIVORCE SUMMONS
The divorce summons must be served personally on the defendant by the Sheriff of the High court. Personal service of the divorce summons on the defendant is required because divorce affects one’s status. Where the defendant’s whereabouts are unknown, a separate application (application for substituted service) will have to be made to court for leave to serve the divorce summons by other means such as having the divorce summons published in a daily publication which circulates widely. Where the defendant is to be served with the summons outside Zimbabwe, a separate application (application for edictal citation) will have to be made to court for leave to have the divorce summons served outside the country.
THE PROCEDURE SUBSEQUENT TO SERVICE OF DIVORCE SUMMONS
1. (i) The plaintiff and defendant prepare and sign a consent paper setting out what the parties have agreed on
2. (ii) The defendant signs an affidavit of Waiver saying they do not wish to defend the matter, that they do not wish to be served with any notice of set down and that they have signed a consent paper and identifies the signatures on the consent paper and marriage certificate
3. (iii) The plaintiff after satisfying themselves by seeing the affidavit of Waiver deposes to an affidavit of Evidence incorporating the consent paper and affidavit of Waiver
4. (iv) The matter is then set down for hearing
(The parties are not necesarily required to attend court)

Lenon Itai Rwizi is a Registered Legal Practitioner of the Superior Courts of Zimbabwe and can be contacted on: +263 774 159 146 or +263 713 967 341 [email protected]. The above does not constitute formal legal advice, and neither does it create any type of attorney-client relationship. Please seek legal advice from your own by contacting the writer https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057530166769 or any attorney of your choice. See less

02/10/2026

So yesterday the High Court in Harare had 63 divorce matters…
This is an increase from the usual weekly average of 55. What’s happening out there?
😩

01/07/2026

Many people lose their rights not because they are wrong, but because they waited too long to act.

One of the biggest mistakes people make is assuming that time does not matter in legal matters.

It does.

A person may have a valid claim, a strong case, or clear evidence, yet lose the opportunity to enforce those rights simply because they delayed taking action.

Some people ignore warning signs.

Others hope the problem will disappear on its own.

Some are afraid of confrontation.

Others believe they can always deal with it later.

Unfortunately, "later" is not always available.

Documents get lost.

Witnesses become unavailable.

Evidence disappears.

Legal deadlines pass.

And opportunities that once existed may never return.

When your rights are threatened, prompt action is often just as important as being right.

This does not mean rushing into conflict. It means seeking proper advice early enough to understand your options and protect your interests.

The sooner you address a legal issue, the more choices you are likely to have.

Delay has cost many people far more than they ever imagined.

💬 Have you ever seen a situation where someone waited too long and paid the price for it? Share your thoughts in the comments.

—

when it comes to protecting your rights, delay can be costly. act early, stay protected.

Pls Follow me if you haven't

29/06/2026

The New Digital Title Deed in Zimbabwe?

In 2025, the Government of Zimbabwe introduced Statutory Instrument 76 of 2025, marking a significant shift in the country’s property ownership system. The instrument sets 18 July 2027 as the deadline for the verification and digitalization of all Title Deeds.

Simply put, Zimbabwe is transitioning from a paper-based title system to a fully digital registry. This new regime is not only about convenience—it is designed to verify all Title Deeds in circulation and ensure full compliance with existing legal requirements.

WHAT YOU NEED TO SUBMIT

To validate your title deed, you must present the following at the Deeds Registry:

a. Your original title deed;
b. A valid proof of identity such National ID, or Passport;
c. The prescribed application form;
d. The applicable fees as set out in the Regulations

WHAT IS A "SECURITISED DEED"?

Once verified, your deed will be digitized, recorded in a new national electronic land register, and issued as a securitized physical copy with tamper-proof features. Only these new deeds will be recognized for legal or administrative purposes after the 24-month period.

WHY THIS MATTERS — THE RISKS OF INACTION

Failing to validate your title deed is not a minor administrative lapse. The consequences are significant:

a. Transactional Freezes: Banks and financial institutions are expected to stop accepting non-securitized deeds as collateral for loans. Delays or inability to transact (sell, transfer, mortgage).

b. Fraud Vulnerability: Paper deeds remain susceptible to double-allocation and forgery.

c. In short, failing to validate means you risk losing your real rights over your property: the right to enjoy it, mortgage it, sell it, donate it, or bequeath it.

An Important Issue: Deceased Estates

Properties registered in the names of deceased persons cannot be verified or digitized unless the Estate has been properly administered.

Across Zimbabwe, a significant number of:

• Residential properties
• Farms
• Commercial premises

remain registered in the names of individuals who have passed on.

These properties will not qualify for the new digital system until the Administration of Deceased Estates process has been completed.

This makes it urgent for beneficiaries, families, and property holders to take corrective action.

Lenon Itai Rwizi is a Registered Legal Practitioner of the Superior Courts of Zimbabwe and can be contacted on: +263 774 159 146 or +263 713 967 341 [email protected]. The above does not constitute formal legal advice, and neither does it create any type of attorney-client relationship. Please seek legal advice from your own by contacting the writer https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057530166769 or any attorney of your choice.
propertiesinzim # #

26/06/2026

Ending another week on a high note…

Know the Law with Lenon Rwizi

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