Calls for criminalisation of adultery

Some sections of society have urged Zimbabwe to criminalise adultery as a way of curbing moral decay but the calls have been met with resistance from others who claim it will impede on human rights.

Some Zimbabweans feel that the rate of moral decay in the country can be arrested through criminalising adultery.

A legal practitioner, Mr Dumisani Mthombeni and Mr Claude Shambare agreed that the criminalisation of adultery is the only way which can deter people from engaging in immoral sexual conduct with numerous partners, thus bringing sanity back to society

However, others contend that adultery should not be treated as a crime as the majority will not be able to comply.

Under Zimbabwean laws, adultery is not a crime and a wronged party can seek recourse in the civil court.

Adultery however used to be a crime but was abrogated by disuse with the Green versus Fitzgerald case of 1914 being the last.

However, recently debate has been stirred in the wake of the HIV pandemic which has wrecked havoc on Sub-Saharan Africa.

Ironically, Moslem African countries with strong moral laws have very low figures of people infected with HIV.