Should UK-Based Zimbabweans Make a Separate Will for Zimbabwean Property, and What Inheritance Risks Should They Plan For?

If you own property or other assets in Zimbabwe while living in the UK, relying on a single UK will to cover everything is risky. The recommended approach is a Zimbabwe-specific will, drafted with a Zimbabwean legal practitioner, covering only your Zimbabwean assets. This avoids delays that arise when a foreign will's format does not align with how the Master of the High Court's office expects documents to be presented, and it lets you state your intentions in terms Zimbabwean succession law recognises directly. A real danger with multiple wills across jurisdictions is that a standard revocation clause in a later will can accidentally cancel an earlier one. If you go this route, each will should contain a limited revocation clause stating it only revokes previous wills "in respect of" that country's assets, and the drafting lawyer should understand both UK and Zimbabwean law so the documents don't conflict. A complication specific to diaspora families involves blended marital history: where someone was already married under customary law and later entered a civil marriage, often after relocating abroad, Zimbabwean courts (including in Gwatidzo v Masukusa and Chinho v Chinho) have held the civil marriage is treated as customary for inheritance purposes — meaning both spouses are recognised as surviving spouses, each entitled to a share. Do not assume either marriage takes precedence; raise this directly with a Zimbabwean legal practitioner. Zimbabwe's dual legal system of customary and general law has historically disadvantaged widows, particularly those in unregistered customary unions, who can struggle to prove the marriage existed after a husband's death if in-laws contest it. Human Rights Watch documented widespread property-grabbing enabled by this gap. Registering any customary marriage is strongly advised for this reason. Separately, for a foreign-based person to act as executor of a Zimbabwean estate, there is a specific recognition mechanism under Section 35 of the Administration of Estates Act — a Power of Attorney alone does not substitute for it. Discuss estate duty treatment with a practitioner if you have lived abroad long-term, as this affects how the estate is handled. Sources: https://www.propzone.co.zw/en/knowledge-base/legal-finance/zimbabwean-property-inheritance-diaspora-death-abroad, https://withfarra.co.uk/guides/multiple-wills-different-jurisdictions, https://www.hrw.org/report/2017/01/24/you-will-get-nothing/violations-property-and-inheritance-rights-widows-zimbabwe