(1) Any person who wishes to be registered shall apply in writing to the Registrar and shall submit with his application—
(a) a certificate of any qualification on which he relies for registration or a certified photostat copy thereof; and (b) the appropriate fee prescribed by the Council; and
(c) such evidence of identity and of good character and reputation and such other evidence or information as may be required by the Council.
(2) The Registrar—
(a) may require any statement made in, or in connection with, an application in terms of subsection (1) to be supported by solemn declaration;
(b) shall refer an application in terms of subsection (1) and any report he may wish to make thereon to the Council.
(3) An application in terms of subsection (1) by a person who relies on the qualifications specified in paragraph 2 or 3 of the Second Schedule shall be lodged with the Registrar within six months after the appointed day or within such further period as the Council may for good cause in any particular case allow.
(4) Subject to subsections (5) and (6), the Council shall direct the Registrar to register an applicant if it is satisfied that the applicant is qualified in terms of section twenty-five and is a fit person to be registered.
(5) The Council shall refuse to direct the Registrar to register an applicant if it is satisfied that the applicant has at any time, whether within or outside Zimbabwe—
(a) been removed from an office of trust on account of improper conduct; or
(b) been convicted of extortion, bribery, theft, fraud, forgery or uttering a forged document or perjury and sentenced in respect thereof to imprisonment without the option of a fine or to a fine exceeding level five.
[Subsection amended by section 4 of Act 22 of 2001]
(6) The Council may refuse to direct the Registrar to register an applicant if, in its opinion, the applicant, notwithstanding that he is otherwise qualified, is not a fit person to be registered by reason of—
(a) his physical or mental health; or
(b) the fact that he is not of good character or reputation; or
(c) the fact that he has not an adequate knowledge of the English language; or
(d) any conduct of his which, if he had been registered, would have constituted improper or disgraceful conduct:
Provided that, before refusing registration in terms of this paragraph, the Council shall hold an inquiry in terms of Part IV and that Part shall apply, mutatis mutandis, as if the applicant were registered.