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Gazetted 26th August 2016
DEEDS REGISTRIES AMENDMENT BILL, 2016
Memorandum
This Bill will amend the Deeds Registries Act [Chapter 20:05] (“the principal Act”) in the manner specified in the clause-by-clause analysis below:
Clause 1
This clause sets out the Bill’s short title.
Clause 2
This clause seeks to amend section 78 of the principal Act so as to restrict the execution of powers of attorney only to those witnessed and signed by a legal practitioner, notary public or justice of the peace in the presence of the person executing the power of attorney. Attestations of such powers by “competent witnesses” or commissioners of oaths will no longer be competent for deeds registry purposes.
Clauses 3 and 4
The amendments sought by these clauses will permit the digitisation of the deeds registry and the eventual establishment of an electronic deeds registry which will supplement the paper-based one, thereby greatly expediting and facilitating deeds registry administration. Access to the electronic registry for the purpose of information-gathering and conveyancing work or notarial practice will be subject to certain safeguards against fraud, violations of privacy and other abuses.
To amend the Deeds Registries Act [Chapter 20:05]; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
ENACTED by the President and Parliament of Zimbabwe.
Short title