The Zimbabwe Central Authority

If a child has been removed or abducted from Zimbabwe or retained in another country which has breached your custody rights or rights of access, and you require assistance for the return of your child back to Zimbabwe, you may contact the Zimbabwe Central Authority who will assist you in the application to the overseas authority or jurisdiction.

In terms of section 5 of the Child Abduction Act [Chapter 5:05], the Permanent Secretary for Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs is designated as the Central Authority in Zimbabwe charged with the duties imposed by the Hague Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction '(HCCAICA').

The legislature saw it fit to designate one Central Authority in Zimbabwe whose offices are currently located at New Government Composite Building, 6 th Floor, Block C, Samora Machel Avenue / Simon Muzenda Street, Harare, Zimbabwe.

The duties of the Central Authority in Zimbabwe are set out in Article 7 of the HCCAICA which include co-operating with other Central Authorities and promote co-operation amongst the competent authorities in their respective States to secure the prompt return of child and to achieve the objects of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.

In particular, the Central Authority in Zimbabwe has a duty to act directly or through any intermediary, and to take all appropriate measures to:

• to discover the whereabouts of a child who has been wrongfully removed or retained;
• to prevent further harm to the child or prejudice to interested parties by taking or causing to be taken provisional measures;
• to secure the voluntary return of the child or to bring about an amicable resolution of the issues;
• to exchange, where desirable, information relating to the social background of the child;
• to provide information of a general character as to the law of their State in connection with the application of the Convention;
• to initiate or facilitate the institution of judicial or administrative proceedings with a view to obtaining the return of the child and, in a proper case, to make arrangements for organizing or securing the effective exercise of rights of access;
• where the circumstances so require, to provide or facilitate the provision of legal aid and advice, including the participation of legal counsel and advisers;
• to provide such administrative arrangements as may be necessary and appropriate to secure the safe return of the child;
• to keep each other informed with respect to the operation of this Convention and, as far as possible, to eliminate any obstacles to its application.