The CEDAW Committee has stated: Many States parties lack either a legal requirement of marriage registration or implementation of existing registration requirements, and in such instances individuals should not be penalized for failure to register [emphasis added], including where lack of education and infrastructure makes registration difficult.130 And: States parties should provide for establishing proof of marriage by means other than registration where circumstances warrant. The State must protect the rights of women in such marriages, regardless of their registration status.131 It has recommended that “[u]nregistered marriages may be substantiated by production of a marriage contract, witness accounts of the rituals or other means, as appropriate in the circumstances.”132 The CEDAW Committee has also held that bride price (lobola, in Zimbabwe) is a violation of a woman’s right to freely choose her spouse, stating: “This practice should not be in any way required in order for a marriage to be valid, and such agreements should not be recognized by the State party as enforceable.”133 The CEDAW Committee furthermore concluded that polygamy is contrary to CEDAW and must be “discouraged and prohibited.”134 In Zimbabwe, however, the practice has not been discouraged or prohibited and is in fact condoned and sanctioned by national law.135 130 Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, “General recommendation on article 16 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (Economic consequences of marriage, family relations and their dissolution)” UN. Doc. CEDAW/C/GC/29, 30 October 2013, http://hrlibrary.umn.edu/gencomm/CEDAW%20Gen%20rec%2029.pdf (accessed July 26, 2016), para. 25. 131 Ibid., para. 26. 132 Ibid., para. 20. 133 Ibid., para. 33. 134 Ibid., para. 21. 135 See, Customary Marriages Act, sec. 3(1); Administration of Estates Act, cap. 6:01, sec. 68F(2)(c). “YOU WILL GET NOTHING” 46