Articles On Law
A Critique of the marriage bill
Published August 1, 2019 | By Godwills Masimirembwa
The Marriage Bill gazetted on the 19th July 2019, aimed at harmonizing Zimbabwe’s marriage laws and aligning them to the Constitution, is a mixed bag of progress, stagnation and retrogression.
Indigenous marriages under threat
Published April 3, 2017 | By Godwills Masimirembwa
In my article titled “Traditional leaders should be designated marriage officers” published in The Herald of March 27, 2017, I submitted that the provisions of the law make it difficult for indigenous marriages to be solemnised. Concurrent with making it difficult to register indigenous marriages, the law does not recognise unregistered indigenous marriages.
Traditional leaders should be designated marriage officers
Published March 27, 2017 | By Godwills Masimirembwa
Have you ever wondered why the majority of “customary” marriages are not registered? The major historical reason was that writing was not part of African society prior to colonisation.What was required for a valid marriage under “customary” law was the consent of the intending spouses to the marriage; the consent of the guardian of the woman; agreement
CHIDYAUSIKU LEAVES BEHIND A COMMENDABLE LEGACY OF DEFENDING ZIMBABWE’S HERITAGE
Published March 13, 2017 | By Godwills Masimirembwa
I do not know what race Muckraker belongs to, but sounds Caucasian. If not Caucasian, he is sold out to colonial values. In his 3rd March 2017 rant against retired Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku he sought to compare the Zimbabwean patriot (Chidyausiku) to the Rhodesian conformist (Gubbay). The two legacies are like chalk and cheese. Chidyausiku was a fighter for justice and equality.
ROMAN-DUTCH LAW RETARDED THE GROWTH OF ZIMBABWEAN COMMON LAW.
Published March 6, 2017 | By Godwills Masimirembwa
Yes, the writer knows that according to section 192 of the constitution of Zimbabwe as read with section 89 of the independence constitution, Roman-Dutch law as imposed by colonial conquest is Zimbabwe’s common law. But it is precisely because of this position that Zimbabwe’s legitimate common law has failed to flourish, being relegated to the status of customary law.
Zimbabwe’s marriage laws need urgent harmonisation
Published Febuary 27, 2017 | By Godwills Masimirembwa
Zimbabwe’s marriage laws, in so far as they affect indigenous Zimbabweans, are in a mess because the executive and legislature have failed to harmonise the conflicting systems of marriage laws. Prior to colonisation Zimbabweans had their own common law.