Current Version
| Region | Zimbabwe |
| Issue | Right to change legal gender |
| Status | Illegal |
| Start Date | (unknown) |
| End Date | (none) |
| Description | Gender marker change is not allowed. Section 18(2) of the the Births and Deaths Registration Act 11 of 1986 allows a person to change their forename. Section 18(3) provides for the change of a surname, but the Registrar-General must be satisfied that it is for a “lawful purpose”. As a result of this, trans Zimbabweans face the risk of arrest for fraud if their gender expression does not match their identity cards. |
| Sources | https://www.southernafricalitigationcentre.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Zimbabwe-LGR-brief-web.pdf http://www.weekendpost.co.zw/articles/2015/06/19/zim-man-turns-into-a-woman https://lawhubzim.org/zimbabwean-law-and-sexual-orientation/ https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/zimbabwe https://ilga.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/ILGA_World_Trans_Legal_Mapping_Report_2019_EN.pdf |
Revision History (13)
edited by DaisyGeekyTrans. Adding more info.
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value (Current) | |
|---|---|---|
| Start Date | 1986 | (unknown) |
| Description | Gender marker change is not allowed. Section 18(2) of the the Births and Deaths Registration Act 11 of 1986 allows a person to change their forename. Section 18(3) provides for the change of a surname, but the Registrar-General must be satisfied that it is for a “lawful purpose”. | Gender marker change is not allowed. Section 18(2) of the the Births and Deaths Registration Act 11 of 1986 allows a person to change their forename. Section 18(3) provides for the change of a surname, but the Registrar-General must be satisfied that it is for a “lawful purpose”. As a result of this, trans Zimbabweans face the risk of arrest for fraud if their gender expression does not match their identity cards. |
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| Sources | https://www.southernafricalitigationcentre.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Zimbabwe-LGR-brief-web.pdf http://www.weekendpost.co.zw/articles/2015/06/19/zim-man-turns-into-a-woman https://lawhubzim.org/zimbabwean-law-and-sexual-orientation/ https://ilga.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/ILGA_World_Trans_Legal_Mapping_Report_2019_EN.pdf | https://www.southernafricalitigationcentre.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Zimbabwe-LGR-brief-web.pdf http://www.weekendpost.co.zw/articles/2015/06/19/zim-man-turns-into-a-woman https://lawhubzim.org/zimbabwean-law-and-sexual-orientation/ https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/zimbabwe https://ilga.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/ILGA_World_Trans_Legal_Mapping_Report_2019_EN.pdf |
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| Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Sources | http://www.weekendpost.co.zw/articles/2015/06/19/zim-man-turns-into-a-woman https://lawhubzim.org/zimbabwean-law-and-sexual-orientation/ https://ilga.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/ILGA_World_Trans_Legal_Mapping_Report_2019_EN.pdf | https://www.southernafricalitigationcentre.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Zimbabwe-LGR-brief-web.pdf http://www.weekendpost.co.zw/articles/2015/06/19/zim-man-turns-into-a-woman https://lawhubzim.org/zimbabwean-law-and-sexual-orientation/ https://ilga.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/ILGA_World_Trans_Legal_Mapping_Report_2019_EN.pdf |
Show Difference | ||
| Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Legal, but requires surgery | Illegal |
| Description | Section 18(2) of the the Births and Deaths Registration Act 11 of 1986 allows a person to change their forename. Section 18(3) provides for the change of a surname, but the Registrar-General must be satisfied that it is for a “lawful purpose”. | Gender marker change is not allowed. Section 18(2) of the the Births and Deaths Registration Act 11 of 1986 allows a person to change their forename. Section 18(3) provides for the change of a surname, but the Registrar-General must be satisfied that it is for a “lawful purpose”. |
Show Difference | ||
| Sources | http://www.weekendpost.co.zw/articles/2015/06/19/zim-man-turns-into-a-woman https://lawhubzim.org/zimbabwean-law-and-sexual-orientation/ | http://www.weekendpost.co.zw/articles/2015/06/19/zim-man-turns-into-a-woman https://lawhubzim.org/zimbabwean-law-and-sexual-orientation/ https://ilga.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/ILGA_World_Trans_Legal_Mapping_Report_2019_EN.pdf |
Show Difference | ||
| Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Illegal | Legal, but requires surgery |
| Start Date | (unknown) | Jan 1, 1986 |
| Description | No legal way to change gender yet. | Section 18(2) of the the Births and Deaths Registration Act 11 of 1986 allows a person to change their forename. Section 18(3) provides for the change of a surname, but the Registrar-General must be satisfied that it is for a “lawful purpose”. |
Show Difference | ||
Reports (1)
- Sources are invalid or broken "What is this? We need a clearer source and description
https://www.equaldex.com/region/zimbabwe "
edited by Notdog1996. Status was not accurate
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | (REMOVED) | Illegal |
| Special Status | N/A | Illegal |
| Sources | http://www.weekendpost.co.zw/articles/2015/06/19/zim-man-turns-into-a-woman | http://www.weekendpost.co.zw/articles/2015/06/19/zim-man-turns-into-a-woman https://lawhubzim.org/zimbabwean-law-and-sexual-orientation/ |
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edited by Muhammadaji2022
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Legal, no restrictions | (REMOVED) |
| Special Status | Legal, no restrictions | N/A |
| Description | It is preformed though. Missing non binary options on documents. | No legal way to change gender yet. |
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| Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | It is preformed though. | It is preformed though. Missing non binary options on documents. |
Show Difference | ||
Reports (2)
- Status is not correct "It is not possible to change one's gender in official documentation according to the ILGA state-sponsored homophobia report. "
- Date is incorrect "Thé date is not mentioned
"
| Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Legal, but requires surgery | Legal, no restrictions |
| Description | Requires surgery and sterilization. | No |
| Sources | www.law.utoronto.ca | http://www.weekendpost.co.zw/articles/2015/06/19/zim-man-turns-into-a-woman |
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| Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | (REMOVED) | Legal, but requires surgery |
| Special Status | Ambiguous | Legal, but requires surgery |
| Description | Legal Requires surgery. not sure if sterilization is required. | Requires surgery and sterilization. |
Show Difference | ||
| Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Legal, but requires surgery | (REMOVED) |
| Special Status | Legal, but requires surgery | Ambiguous |
| Description | No | Legal Requires surgery. not sure if sterilization is required. |
| Old Value (Original) | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Illegal | Legal, but requires surgery |
| Sources | No | www.law.utoronto.ca |