'Marriages laws need attention,' says RG

The Registrar General Mr Tobaiwa Mudede says the current legislation on marriage has loopholes that require urgent attention to protect the family and cultural values.

In an interview on marriages, Mudede expressed concern over the current provisions of the Civil Marriage Act which he said did not adequately deal with problems associated with our African cultural values.

He said: "The Civil Marriage Act require stakeholders to look into it and probably find ways of addressing the issue with a view to suit our cultural values and beliefs."

The Registrar General said there is need for marriages to be united by love and not by forcing each other to enter into agreements that will not be honoured.

"What is important is love between the two parties, we have realised that some of the marriages are only on paper and are not in love which is important for the unity of any family."

Other women who presented at the workshop also expressed concern over the inheritance laws which they say are a potential disaster for children. They called for the protection of children in the country's inheritance laws.

Reports of rising divorce cases have been an issue of concern to the Registrar General's office and fears are that the problem can affect families and cultural values.

It is against this background that the Registrar General's office in conjunction with the cultural preservation group organised a consultative forum on marriages and how the problem of marriage laws, divorce and other related issues can be solved.