News / National
Limit number of wives a man can marry, says MPs
01 Aug 2017 at 11:18hrs | Views
LAWMAKERS want laws that limit the number of wives a man can have in a polygamous marriage.
Goromonzi West and Mutasa North legislators, Honourables Beatrice Nyamupinga and Luke Masamvu believe in a law that is specific on the number of wives a man can have in a polygamous marriage.
They also want protection of women from all forms of abuse in polygamous marriages.
In a notice of motion presented to parliament, they seek to protect women in polygamous marriages so that they do not miss out on the estate of their deceased spouse.
"Concerned at the plight of women in polygamous matrimony who are denied their social status, property and conjugal rights;
"Desirous to minimise the suffering of such women as the practice erodes their self-esteem and results in emotional and psychological abuse which results in broken relationships and families;
"Disturbed that the results of such abusive relationships fuels unwanted pregnancies and diseases which lead to unforetold suffering to the immediate families," reads part of the notice of motion.
They say it is under this background that they therefore seek legislation that:
"…protects women in polygamous marriages from all forms of abuse; ensures that women are not deprived of their rights to the estate of their spouses at the time of their deaths; the number of wives that a man may enter into marriage union with, be limited to a certain number and those who pledge women into polygamous relationships be prosecuted."
The call comes in the wake of media reports that the late retired Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku's youthful widow, Farai Kunaka did not benefit anything from the deceased's estate after a Will revealed that all his estate had been left to his children.
According to a Will and Testament that was filed recently at the Master of High Court's office, Kunaka was left out on the distribution plan.
It is however, not clear if she did not have beneficial arrangements excluded from the will.
Goromonzi West and Mutasa North legislators, Honourables Beatrice Nyamupinga and Luke Masamvu believe in a law that is specific on the number of wives a man can have in a polygamous marriage.
They also want protection of women from all forms of abuse in polygamous marriages.
In a notice of motion presented to parliament, they seek to protect women in polygamous marriages so that they do not miss out on the estate of their deceased spouse.
"Concerned at the plight of women in polygamous matrimony who are denied their social status, property and conjugal rights;
"Desirous to minimise the suffering of such women as the practice erodes their self-esteem and results in emotional and psychological abuse which results in broken relationships and families;
"Disturbed that the results of such abusive relationships fuels unwanted pregnancies and diseases which lead to unforetold suffering to the immediate families," reads part of the notice of motion.
They say it is under this background that they therefore seek legislation that:
"…protects women in polygamous marriages from all forms of abuse; ensures that women are not deprived of their rights to the estate of their spouses at the time of their deaths; the number of wives that a man may enter into marriage union with, be limited to a certain number and those who pledge women into polygamous relationships be prosecuted."
The call comes in the wake of media reports that the late retired Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku's youthful widow, Farai Kunaka did not benefit anything from the deceased's estate after a Will revealed that all his estate had been left to his children.
According to a Will and Testament that was filed recently at the Master of High Court's office, Kunaka was left out on the distribution plan.
It is however, not clear if she did not have beneficial arrangements excluded from the will.
Source - hmetro
