THE new Marriages Act continues to stir debate among communities, especially in rural areas where traditional leaders and their people feel not enough consultation was made before being passed into law.
The Marriages Act has not been well received in communities here including the custodians of traditions such as traditional leaders.
The new Marriages Act recognises civil partnerships and the option of paying lobola. However, it has divided opinion, particularly among rural communities, who strongly feel that it is counter-cultural.
According to legislation, Zimbabwean men can now pay lobola only if they want to do so, because a bride price is a moral decision rather than a legal requirement under the new Marriages Act.
However, in traditional African custom, marriage is a fundamental institution that plays a significant role in society.
The Director of Law Development Commission, Netsai Zvakasikwa, shared the import and impact of the new Marriages Act during a public engagement meeting in Masvingo, where she said although the Government acknowledges the moral values and cultural customs surrounding marriage, lobola payment is no longer obligatory.
Reacting to this development, Gwanda traditional leader, Chief Khulumani Math[1]ema, was emphatic that they were not consulted during the process of enacting the new law. “As they passed this law, were there any consultations? I doubt it.
“People were supposed to be involved so that they could air their views, hence I believe public consultations was going to be the best answer. I don’t believe traditional leaders were engaged, particularly the kraal heads and chiefs and others who are not in Parliament.
“This is a very unfair law because it defeats our culture, it is too modernised. It is taking us back to the colonial rule which we ran away from. We are not whites, hence paying lobola must be a must. Let us preserve our culture, because paying lobola is a way of appeasing and respecting our traditional spirits,” said Chief Mathema. — New Ziana