Zimbabwe created one law to replace separate marriage rules. The government combined two older laws into a single Marriage Act that applies to every type of marriage across the country. They also updated several related laws about children, guardianship, maintenance payments, and criminal matters to match this streamlined approach.
The new law makes marriage under the age of eighteen completely illegal. Anyone who helps arrange a child marriage faces up to five years behind bars. This protection applies to formal marriages, traditional unions, and other partnerships involving minors. Both parties must freely choose to marry each other without pressure from others.
Local chiefs became official marriage officers for customary marriages in their areas. This change helps rural people access legal marriage services near home. According to local customs, every traditional ceremony requires witnesses from both families. People living together under traditional arrangements must register within three months.
Zimbabweans living abroad gained better marriage options. Embassy staff can perform marriages for citizens overseas. Anyone planning to marry in another country can request a certificate showing they aren't already married. This document makes international marriages easier for Zimbabweans around the world.
Marriage officers cannot ask for gifts or payments for their services. The law created a new status called civil partnerships between adults who live together without formal marriage. These relationships must meet specific requirements including both people being over eighteen and not closely related by blood.
Courts examine several factors when recognizing these partnerships. They consider how long people lived together, whether they shared a home, their sexual relationship, financial arrangements, property ownership, commitment level, childcare responsibilities, and public reputation.
The law recognizes relationships between unmarried couples and even relationships where one person remains legally married to someone else. Despite involving adultery, these situations still count as civil partnerships under the law when they meet the required conditions.
All marriages registered under the Act require court orders for divorce. Traditional unions registered under section seventeen gained equal status with formal marriages. Courts apply the same rules when dissolving any marriage or partnership recognized by this law.
When relationships end, courts divide property considering several factors. They look at each person's income, assets, and future financial needs. The standard of living, education plans for children, age, health condition, and direct or indirect contributions to the family all matter in these decisions.
Courts consider how each person helped the family, including caring for the home and children. They examine what benefits like pensions might be lost after divorce. The length of the marriage affects decisions about property division. Judges try to create fair outcomes that would match what might have happened in a successful marriage.
The new law makes marriage under the age of eighteen completely illegal. Anyone who helps arrange a child marriage faces up to five years behind bars. This protection applies to formal marriages, traditional unions, and other partnerships involving minors. Both parties must freely choose to marry each other without pressure from others.
Local chiefs became official marriage officers for customary marriages in their areas. This change helps rural people access legal marriage services near home. According to local customs, every traditional ceremony requires witnesses from both families. People living together under traditional arrangements must register within three months.
Zimbabweans living abroad gained better marriage options. Embassy staff can perform marriages for citizens overseas. Anyone planning to marry in another country can request a certificate showing they aren't already married. This document makes international marriages easier for Zimbabweans around the world.
Marriage officers cannot ask for gifts or payments for their services. The law created a new status called civil partnerships between adults who live together without formal marriage. These relationships must meet specific requirements including both people being over eighteen and not closely related by blood.
Courts examine several factors when recognizing these partnerships. They consider how long people lived together, whether they shared a home, their sexual relationship, financial arrangements, property ownership, commitment level, childcare responsibilities, and public reputation.
The law recognizes relationships between unmarried couples and even relationships where one person remains legally married to someone else. Despite involving adultery, these situations still count as civil partnerships under the law when they meet the required conditions.
All marriages registered under the Act require court orders for divorce. Traditional unions registered under section seventeen gained equal status with formal marriages. Courts apply the same rules when dissolving any marriage or partnership recognized by this law.
When relationships end, courts divide property considering several factors. They look at each person's income, assets, and future financial needs. The standard of living, education plans for children, age, health condition, and direct or indirect contributions to the family all matter in these decisions.
Courts consider how each person helped the family, including caring for the home and children. They examine what benefits like pensions might be lost after divorce. The length of the marriage affects decisions about property division. Judges try to create fair outcomes that would match what might have happened in a successful marriage.
