News / Local
Bulawayo men don't marry according to the Census
16 May 2014 at 01:28hrs | Views
ARE you a single lady in Bulawayo and thinking of marriage? We got some news for you: leave town!
The just-released final report of the 2012 census shows that you stand a better chance of finding marriage in Mashonaland Central Province, and you are more likely to be divorced or widowed in Matabeleland South.
A shock 40 percent of marriageable people have never tied the knot in Bulawayo - way more than the national average of 29 percent.
Matabeleland South comes a close second with 36 percent admitting they have never been married while Harare and Mat North - both 31 percent - slot in third and fourth respectively.
The census report, which put the national population at just over 13 million, also shows that you are more likely to get hitched in Mashonaland Central which has the highest percentage of married couples - 64 percent. Mashonaland West (62 percent), Mashonaland East (60 percent) and Manicaland (59 percent) are also good hunting grounds for a life partner.
Matabeleland South has the highest number of divorces or separations - 5,2 percent - and the highest number of widows and widowers -10 percent.
Harare is second in the divorce table with 5,1 percent marriages failing.
You have just a four percent chance of being divorced in Masvingo, with Mashonaland Central and Manicaland also strong in preserving marriages.
The census results also show that nationally, most marriages - 18 percent - occur in the 30-34 age group, but it is also the age group with the most divorces - 19 percent.
Marriage counsellor, Reverend Paul Damasane, said the poor marriage rate in Bulawayo could not be discussed without referencing the economic situation in the province.
The same census results show that Bulawayo has the highest unemployment in the country - 27 percent - against the national average of 11 percent. Matabeleland North with 20 percent out of work and Matabeleland South with 11 percent unemployed are second and third respectively.
Rev Damasane said "the state of the economy in Bulawayo" might explain the failure to commit, with men unable to meet the demands of their high maintenance girlfriends.
"The expectations of the Bulawayo woman are not being met by the non-committal Bulawayo man," Rev Damasane said.
"As a result, some of the women would choose to be in weird situations with men from outside the city for the sake of survival."
The reverend said although some people chose not to live with their girlfriends in formalised marriages, they have "arrangements" that are favourable to both partners.
"If the enumerators had asked in Facebook fashion if they were in a relationship, many would have answered in the affirmative, but would add that it was complicated," he said.
He bemoaned the destruction of the conventional family structure, adding that the church and social leaders need to step in and deal effectively with the issue.
Matabeleland South's high divorce rate is blamed on outward migration, with economically active men choosing to work in South Africa and putting a strain on their marriages.
The just-released final report of the 2012 census shows that you stand a better chance of finding marriage in Mashonaland Central Province, and you are more likely to be divorced or widowed in Matabeleland South.
A shock 40 percent of marriageable people have never tied the knot in Bulawayo - way more than the national average of 29 percent.
Matabeleland South comes a close second with 36 percent admitting they have never been married while Harare and Mat North - both 31 percent - slot in third and fourth respectively.
The census report, which put the national population at just over 13 million, also shows that you are more likely to get hitched in Mashonaland Central which has the highest percentage of married couples - 64 percent. Mashonaland West (62 percent), Mashonaland East (60 percent) and Manicaland (59 percent) are also good hunting grounds for a life partner.
Matabeleland South has the highest number of divorces or separations - 5,2 percent - and the highest number of widows and widowers -10 percent.
Harare is second in the divorce table with 5,1 percent marriages failing.
You have just a four percent chance of being divorced in Masvingo, with Mashonaland Central and Manicaland also strong in preserving marriages.
The census results also show that nationally, most marriages - 18 percent - occur in the 30-34 age group, but it is also the age group with the most divorces - 19 percent.
Marriage counsellor, Reverend Paul Damasane, said the poor marriage rate in Bulawayo could not be discussed without referencing the economic situation in the province.
The same census results show that Bulawayo has the highest unemployment in the country - 27 percent - against the national average of 11 percent. Matabeleland North with 20 percent out of work and Matabeleland South with 11 percent unemployed are second and third respectively.
Rev Damasane said "the state of the economy in Bulawayo" might explain the failure to commit, with men unable to meet the demands of their high maintenance girlfriends.
"The expectations of the Bulawayo woman are not being met by the non-committal Bulawayo man," Rev Damasane said.
"As a result, some of the women would choose to be in weird situations with men from outside the city for the sake of survival."
The reverend said although some people chose not to live with their girlfriends in formalised marriages, they have "arrangements" that are favourable to both partners.
"If the enumerators had asked in Facebook fashion if they were in a relationship, many would have answered in the affirmative, but would add that it was complicated," he said.
He bemoaned the destruction of the conventional family structure, adding that the church and social leaders need to step in and deal effectively with the issue.
Matabeleland South's high divorce rate is blamed on outward migration, with economically active men choosing to work in South Africa and putting a strain on their marriages.
Source - chronicle
