Easy marriages a major cause of rising divorce rate

HHOHHO Regional MP Zanele Magagula wants government to develop policies to regulate marriages, arguing that the ease of getting married contributes to the rising number of divorces.

She said some men were no longer paying bride price, which she believed was one of the reasons for the high number of separations.
The MP expressed concern over the 196 divorce cases reported during the current term, saying the figure was alarming.

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She suggested introducing a pre-marital policy to ensure that couples understand the commitment they are making. Magagula said some people were getting married hastily, sometimes in tents, without their families’ knowledge or involvement.
“Some of the contributing factors include marrying without owning a home and not paying bride price. If dowry was paid, couples would think twice before separating,” she said.
She added that the country’s marriage laws needed to be improved, noting that some men were now paying as little as a single cow as lobola.

“Women are being married for free and carry shame when they return from failed marriages,” she said.
Magagula proposed that before marriage, financial stability should be assessed, and that the ministry should strengthen requirements to ensure that families were involved. She added that many young people today were impatient and age should also be considered before marriage.

Related: 196 Divorces in 3 Months

“This situation paints a bad picture of the country. We may need to return to traditional practices where a home belongs to a woman even if she leaves her marital home,” she said.
Meanwhile, Mafutseni MP Sabelo Mtsetfwa blamed pastors for the rise in divorce cases, arguing that some were too quick to officiate weddings.
He also said the high cost of weddings was pushing many young people into debt and that some were getting married due to peer pressure rather than readiness.

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