Zimbabwe marriage officers in no show

The introduction of the new marriage officers register by the Registrar General's Office this year has seen the disappearance of more than seven hundred marriage officers who are suspected to have been bogus operators.

The move to introduce a new register was aimed at flashing out marriages of convenience.

Addressing journalists in Harare, Registrar General Tobaiwa Mudede revealed that many marriages which were presided over by these suspected bogus officers might be cancelled.

Mudede said before the introduction of the new register, his office had 1966 registered marriage officers but only 1253 marriage officers have come forth to renew their marriage officer certificates, meaning 716 might have been operating illegally.

"We are expecting the more than 700 officers to come forward to prove that they are not bogus. The new register has stern measures which make it difficult for the officers to wed people illegally," said Mudede.

Registrar General Mudede also said upgrading of customary marriages to civil marriages as well as mass weddings have been stopped.

Since the introduction of new marriage certificates which are computerized and serialized, the Registrar General's office has not received reports of marriages of convenience.