KARIBA, March 7 , (NewsDayLive)- The Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs’ Law Development Commission says it is struggling to access legal information in communities, leading to widespread misinformation and confusion.
Rex Shana, the deputy chairperson of the Law Development Commission, made the claim during a public legal awareness campaign on the Marriages Act (Chapter 5:17) in Kariba today.
According to Shana, the commission is committed to increasing public awareness of the country's laws.
However, due to resource constraints, outreach programmes like the one in Kariba were limited, making community participation crucial in disseminating this knowledge.
"The Law Development Commission is committed to increasing public awareness of our laws," Shana said.
"However, due to resource constraints, outreach programmes such as this one remain limited.
“This makes your participation here today even more important. We urge you to take this knowledge back to your communities and share it widely."
The Marriages Act, which was promulgated in 2004, has been a subject of misconceptions and misinformation.
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The campaign provides an opportunity for the Ministry of Justice and Parliamentary Affairs to clarify and discuss the Act's provisions in depth, particularly regarding customary marriages, civil marriages, registration of marriages, age of consent, and polygamy.
Shana explained that the Act recognises customary marriages, which are governed by traditional laws and customs.
However, he noted that customary marriages must be registered with the Registrar of Marriages to be legally recognised.
He also emphasised that the Act sets the minimum age of consent for marriage at 18 years and that polygamous marriages are allowed only under certain conditions.
"The Marriages Act is a comprehensive piece of legislation that aims to protect the rights of all parties involved in a marriage," Shana said.
"However, we have noted that there are still many misconceptions and misunderstandings about the Act's provisions.
“This campaign aims to address these issues and promote a better understanding of the law."
The public legal awareness campaign in Kariba was well attended by members of the community, who engaged in lively discussions and asked pertinent questions about the Marriages Act.
The event is part of the Law Development Commission's efforts to promote public awareness and understanding of the law and to empower communities to make informed decisions about their lives and relationships.
"We urge you to take this knowledge back to your communities and share it widely,” Shana added.
“By doing so, we hope to promote a better understanding of the law and reduce misconceptions and misinformation."
Raimore Zvoushe, the deputy director of the Law Development Commission, emphasised the importance of registering marriages while explaining the provisions of the Marriages Act.
"It is crucial for couples to register their marriages to ensure their union is legally recognized and protected," Zvoushe said.
"Registration provides a secure record of the marriage and helps prevent disputes and complications in the future."
