The Sunday Mail
Veronica Gwaze
A raging debate within the religious circles is ensuing in response to sections of the draft Marriages Bill, 2017 with the major focus being on provisions seeking to recognise civil partnerships.
At a seminar organised by Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe — an umbrella body for Christian denominations, participants expressed mixed feelings on Section 40 of the Bill.
In seeking to recognise civil partnerships, Section 40 defines the union under conditions that both parties must be over the age of eighteen years;(b) have lived together without legally being married to each other; (c) are not within the degrees of affinity or consanguinity as provided in Section 7; and (d) having regard to all circumstances of their relationship or have a relationship as a couple living together on a genuine domestic basis.
Subsection 5 then goes on to say, “A civil partnership exists notwithstanding that one or both of the persons are legally married to someone else or are in another civil partnership”.
Mrs Lucia Gunguwo known as Mai Gunguwo said Section 40 promotes multi-concurrent sexual relations which, erodes the traditional norms and values expected in marriage.
“It is a big blow to monogamous relationships that we believe as the church we should all uphold as the Bill openly encourages people to venture into serial relationships,” she said.
She added that the bill protects those who enter into civil partnerships with married individuals including those with the aim to satisfy sexual and wealth desires while making the other married partner vulnerable.
“The Civil partnerships may come into play but as a church we are saying it should reconsider certain conditions like protecting those who are already married,” she said.
In a contrasting thought, New Covenant Assemblies of God pastor, Clara Pindurai said civil partnerships could be a welcome development as they will place all marriages at par.
“This thing of marriages being recognised in a hierarchy was something that gave way to abuse especially those in customary marriages would have less powers than those who had white weddings.
“But when all marriages are at par, then we all have equal powers. But it also has loopholes that others are obviously going to abuse therefore these civil partnerships should come with certain conditions that will protect all parties,” she said.
“Because the partnership opens a way for a web of relationships in the name of civil partnerships, it should, however, not give powers to assets that the traditionally married couple will have secured,” she said. His Presence Ministries International leader, Pastor Petunia Chiriseri said the bill is already undermining traditional and Christian values of marriage.
She said marriage is a Christian entity that should conform to Biblical demands, which also bring into perspective that traditional leaders cannot automatically be marriage officers by virtue of holding that office.
“A conflict has already been created there and we feel as leaders, that is something we need to sit down and iron out, defining our positions and roles as well as how marriage should be viewed. Something which I believe traditional leaders need to be educated on,” she said.
Away from the seminar, traditionalist, Sekuru Friday Chisanyu said African culture does not recognise civil partnerships as they defile the traditional essence of marriage.
“What we recognise is polygamy not civil marriages which we can say is cohabiting under a new name ‘civil partnership’. In African culture, we did not have such set-ups. It later came with colonialism and truth be told, since it came, lots of marriages have been destroyed while there has been increase in numbers of those living together without proper marriage,” he said.
While traditionally one can marry as many wives as they can, Sekuru Chisanyu said they should pay bride price as custom demands and seek a blessing from parents or relatives.
Sekuru Chisanyu said civil partnerships give power to serial partnerships making the traditionally married individuals vulnerable.
“Remember there are gold diggers out there. This Bill gives them power and courts will be clogged once the bill becomes effective because there will be lots of plotting against each other just to get wealth. And those who are traditionally married will be at a high risk of losing what they have toiled for.
“Civil partnerships also strip family heads of their powers and dignity, as the Bill is biased more towards the extra-marital partners but it does not protect the traditionally married partner. The civil partnership conditions need to be reviewed and holistically looked into as it imports other religious practices that are not traditionally ours,” said Sekuru Chisanyu.
Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs in Zimbabwe President, Sheikh Ishmail Duwa said the Bill is a welcome move creating room for low income earners to marry.
“These days, things are tough and it has become a privilege to have a son in-law who comes to pay bride price and for us, civil partnership is a welcome move. Traditionally in Islamic religion, when we marry no bride price is paid, and this is also biblical.
“When Adam took Eve, God asked Adam to pay but Adam responded that he did not have anything. Then God said, ‘pray and worship the Lord your God’. He did and was given his wife. This now gives room for anyone to marry regardless of their financial status,” he said.
