Bid to outlaw bride price in Zimbabwepublished at 08:58 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2017
Image source, AFPThe payment of a bride price is common in many cultures around the world
A female lawyer in Zimbabwe has mounted a legal challenge to abolish lobola, or the bride price, saying it is an outdated practice which reduces women to mere "properties", the state-run Herald newspaper reports, external.
Priccilar Vengesai believes that if the custom is maintained, the families of both the bride and groom should pay lobola in the interest of gender equality, the newspaper adds.
She has filed papers in Zimbabwe's highest court, the Constitutional Court, asking it to hear her case on the grounds that the practice violates her rights as a citizen.
The newspaper quotes Ms Vengesai as saying that she wants to re-marry, and does not want her experience in a previous marriage to be repeated:
Quote MessageI did not participate in the pegging of the lobola price. I was never given a chance to ask for the justification of the amounts which were paid.
Quote MessageThis whole scenario reduced me to a property whereby a price tag was put on me by my uncles and my husband paid.
Quote MessageThis demoralised me and automatically subjected me to my husband’s control since I would always feel that I was purchased.
Quote MessageI belong to the Shona tribe and I intend to enter into marriage as soon as this matter is concluded.
Quote MessageUnder the Shona culture, lobola must be paid for a woman before the marriage is acceptable in the family and the society.
Quote MessageIn scenarios where lobola is not paid, parents and relatives of the bride would not allow the parties to legalise their marriage under the Marriage Act."