Written by The Zimbabwe Mail
In its current form the Marriages Bill is at best a “destroyer” of civil unions, opposition MPs have argued.
On Wednesday, they shot down an attempt by Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi to begin a process of having it debated in Parliament.
Government, as part of efforts to harmonise the country’s marriage laws with the national Constitution, has crafted a Bill that has been taken to citizens for input.
Ziyambi, had proposed to Deputy Speaker Tsitsi Gezi, that the Bill be put on the Parliament’s (Order Paper) schedule for debate by members but MPs demanded that Zimbabweans must be given a chance to debate it thoroughly at first.
The MPs described the controversial Bill a “marriage destroyer”.
Dzivarasekwa MP Edwin Mushoriwa fumed: “This Bill is a marriage destroyer. It should not be allowed to be debated or go through this House before thorough public consultations.”