'Civil partners have no inheritance rights'

The Master of the High Court, Eldard Mutasa, has clarified that civil partners, commonly referred to as mapoto or amapoto unions, are not entitled to inherit from their deceased partners.

Mutasa said a civil partnership, as outlined in Section 41 of the Marriages Act, does not equate to marriage and does not grant inheritance rights.

"Civil partners are not entitled to inheritance at all. Nothing in our laws accords them the status of a surviving spouse," he stressed.

He explained that civil partnerships are only recognised by a court upon dissolution - either by separation or death - and even then, the court considers only the division of assets acquired jointly during the relationship, not the deceased's estate.

Mutasa warned that misinformation on social media was misleading the public and causing anxiety among married couples. He urged citizens to seek professional legal advice to avoid confusion.

The clarification comes amid growing disputes over inheritance in informal unions, underscoring the need for public awareness on the limits of civil partnership rights.