30 June 2019
MARRIAGE REFORM IN ZIMBABWE
Marriage for women in Zimbabwe has been very unfavorable to them as a result of not having equal rights to property acquisition and this, in turn, leaves them homeless and at loss after a divorce or husbands loss.
This to me is another angle of gender inequality as women and men are not equal and this affects their lives. The differences between men and women emanate from their biological, psychological and cultural norms. As it is said that the root cause of gender equality is embedded in what role a society or culture assigns to each gender.
This is quite evident in Zimbabwe marriage law where there is a minimal provision of property security to women who lose their husband to death or to another valid reason for divorce. The laws on marriage and divorce are not in line with the country’s constitution, of them having equal rights and them living in partnership. The marriage bill that was introduced in January 2017 needs the parliament to broaden the scope of the law such that it can protect women that are married to their spouse but are not legally binding under the customary law in regards to their equal right to property rights during marriage, divorce or death of a spouse.
Although Zimbabwe has a separate law governing the dissolution of marriage called the Matrimonial Causes Act that allows for equitable distribution of property between spouses at divorce, direct and indirect contributions to raising children and family care it has not reflected in how things are for attended based on this subject topic. Majority of these women in Zimbabwe are not married under the registered customary unions and most women lose their properties when their spouse dies or the men or his family keep all the property to themselves. This is an epitome of gender inequality.
The first step to combat this gender inequality in Zimbabwe’s marriage is to provide full protection that will detail marital property rights and equality for spouses both during marriage and during its dissolve.
16 June 2019
.....Now Kenya! Africa which way forward?
A high court ruling in Kenya, East Africa gave a heart crushing verdict on the LGBT community as the legislation announced that homosexuality is a criminal act in tune with the country’s constitution.
Masses of LGBT activists in different spheres stormed the courtroom to hear this verdict such that there were lots of pandemonium in the courtroom and it was filled to the brim which in turn delayed the session of the court.
LGBT community were so keen bout this court ruling because of the effects this verdict will have considering its a continents of the blacks where religious and cultural values are held up high. LGBT has already been classified as illegal in 32 countries out of 54 countries in Africa. What a shame…. They are finding it hard to get accepted in the African continent. A well-known gay activist “Bisi Alimi” also shared his sad feeling about the perception making a reference to Nigeria where “Nigerian laws punish same sex marriage with up to 14 years in prison”. Bisi Alimi is displeased with this news and so are we the Activists. Judge who made this verdict said the rules have not gone against the rights to dignity, healthcare access, fair trial and privacy involved neither can the LGBT+ community prove that their rights have been violated. Judges Roselyn Aburili, Chacha Mwita and John Mativo also emphasized that the legislation that criminalize homosexual could also apply to a heterosexual individual because revoking the laws that bind against homosexuality would initiate same sex marriage and this will be unconstitutional.
A Kenyan LGBT refugee from Rwanda, Hebert ran to Kenya because of the anti-gay law in Rwanda, but now Kenya is beginning to follow in the footsteps of other countries in criminalizing homosexuality. I wonder why it is still incomprehensible to the African cultural dynamics.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
