'Increase in divorce cases is worrisome'

THERE is a sharp increase in divorce cases involving young couples and the trend is worrisome, a traditional leader has said.

In an interview on the sidelines of Muzogwi Primary School Tree Seedlings Nursery official launch in Chivi, Chief Chivi bemoaned the moral decadence prevailing among youths, saying he presides over three to four divorce cases weekly involving young couples.

Chief Chivi said young people, both men and women, no longer respected marriage and sometimes jumped into cohabitation at the expense of pursuing proper procedures.

He urged his subjects to go back to basics when marrying and stressed the need for young couples to go for counselling so that they can appreciate challenges that go with married life.

"The rate at which I receive cases of divorce involving young couples at my court is worrying. Surely, I do not know what has gone wrong with today's youth. At every court session I preside over three to four cases of divorce depending on time.

"Anyone who feels is man enough to live with a woman should  follow our culture," said Chief Chivi.

According to statistics from the 2012 census, Matabeleland South has the highest number of divorces or separations at 5,2 percent as well as the highest number of widows and widowers at 10 percent.

Harare is second in the divorce ratings with 5,1 percent of its marriages failing.

Masvingo was among those with the least percentage at four percent.

Despite that, Chief Chivi said he was alarmed by what was happening in his area which is under Masvingo province and bemoaned the apparent collapse of the extended family system where aunts and uncles played a pivotal role in preventing marriage breakdowns.

The traditional leader appealed to government to set a law that punishes youths who impregnate girls but dump them without paying any damages.

He said youths who have a tendency of impregnating girls should be responsible enough through taking care of their children.

Chief Chivi who planted a tree at the school called on his subjects to conserve the environment through establishing woodlots of indigenous trees in their communities.

Present at the launch were Environment, Water and Climate Minister Saviour Kasukuwere, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Masvingo Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, Chivi-Mwenezi Senator Josiah Hungwe, Masvingo City Council Mayor Hubert Fidze, OK Zimbabwe CEO Willard Zireva, Forestry Commission in Zimbabwe general manager Darlington Duwa, Friends of The Environment (FOTE) chairman Tendai Kanjanda, tradional leaders, among others.