Government Urged To Align Laws On Child Marriages With The Constitution
Concerns have been raised over the delay by the government to amend the Constitution to incorporate a court ruling which banned child marriages in 2016.
The ruling banned marriage of individuals below the age of 18 despite their gender. This was a departure from a previous constitutional provision which permitted marriage of girls aged 16 and males who would have attained 18 years.
Last year, in his state of the nation address, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said Parliament was also expected to consider:
the Marriages Bill, which seeks to outlaw child marriages.
But this has not yet happened even when the speaker of Parliament, Jacob Mudenda admitted the need to harmonise existing laws with the new Constitution.
The amendment of the Constitution is essential considering that there are some perpetrators of child marriages who are taking advantage of the gaps in the constitution.
Gumbonzvanda, who is known for castigating child marriages believes that delaying the alignment of new laws with the constitution may result in policy confusion. She said:
It is achievable and we should implement it.
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