The Sunday Mail
Tendai Mbirimi – Bridal Writer
MOST people tend to forget the importance of a marriage officer.
They can plan for everything else — from bridal wear up to the motorcade to be used on the special day — only to remember just a few days before the wedding day that they need a marriage officer.
In most cases, marriage officers are taken as an after-thought in wedding plans, yet they are an integral part of the ceremony.
As a result, there are marriage ceremonies that have had to start hours late due to the tardiness of the marriage officer.
Interestingly, most people mistake marriage officers with pastors. Being a pastor, prophet or founder of a church does not automatically make one a marriage officer.
The founder and leader of Strong Bonds couples movement, Pastor Simba Woloza encourages people to find out first from their church elders if their church has a marriage officer.
“You must find out from your church elders regarding the position of marriage officers. Don’t make the mistake of assuming that every pastor is a marriage officer by virtue of being a pastor,” said Pastor Simba.
Apart from the fact that it is illegal for one to solemnise a wedding without being cleared by the Registrar-General’s office, they may risk partaking an unprocedural wedding.
There are two types of marriage officers in Zimbabwe. A magistrate by virtue of being a judge automatically qualifies to be a marriage officer. The second type is the minister of religion who has been commissioned through the Registrar-Generals’ office to administer the Marriage Act.
The marriage officer must meet with the bride and groom for a pre-marital interview. This is where they disclose their marital status.
According to pastor Simba, divorcees’ are required to prove beyond reasonable doubt that they have since detached from their previous marriage. Widows, widowers, bachelors and spinsters also have different requirements.
After the marriage officer is satisfied with the presentation, the first step is to apply for publication of banns (that is if the couple is marrying via marriage banns).Your church or pastor will give you the form to complete. The form is called Application of Publication.
Publications of banns
These are announced for three consecutive weeks during a divine service. They can also be displayed at your church notice board for the same period.
Notice of intention to marry
This notice is displayed at the magistrate’s court for an unbroken period of 15 days and thereafter a certificate of intention to marry is issued.
Marriage licence
This statutory tool is suitable for Zimbabweans in the diaspora. The marriage license is obtainable from the magistrate’s court within a day and the marriage ceremony can be conducted immediately afterwards.
Legally, five people are required for the solemnisation of a marriage, these are the groom, bride, two witnesses (best lady and best man) and the marriage officer. These five are the big five of a wedding ceremony. Without any one of them a ceremony is incomplete.
Feedback: [email protected]
