Deputy Chairman, Law Development Commission, Zimbabwe. Email : ldc@gta.gov.zw CHAPTER 5:11 MARRIAGE ACT Acts 81/1964, 6/1967 (s. 15), 35/1967.(s. 32), 20/1968, 42/1971 (s. 5), 37/1972, 21/1973 (s. 66), 41/1978 (s. 4), 17/1979 (s. 7), 29/1981 (s. 59), 15/l982 (s. 3), 18/1989.(s. 37), 22/2001 (s. 4); 23/2004 (s. 282); S.I’s 213/1982, 666/1983. ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS PART I P RELIMINARY Section 1. Short title. 2. Interpretation. PART II MARRIAGE OFFICERS 3. 4. 5. 6. Magistrate to be marriage officer for district. Designation of ministers of religion and other persons as marriage officers. Certain persons may in certain circumstances be deemed to have been marriage officers. Change of name of religious denomination or organization and amalgamation of religious denominations or organizations. 7. Revocation of designation as marriage officer. PART III S OLEMNIZATION OF M ARRIAGE 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. Unauthorized solemnization of marriage ceremonies forbidden. Publication of banns or notice of intention to marry or issue of marriage licence before marriage. Application for publication and acceptance of banns. How publication of banns of marriage to be made. Certificate of publication of banns. Publication outside Zimbabwe of banns or notice of intention to marry. Notice of intention to marry. Certificate of publication of notice of intention to marry. Marriage licence. Period of validity of banns, notice of intention to marry and marriage licence. Informalities in publication of banns or notice of intention to marry or in issue of marriage licence. Objections to marriage. Marriage of minors. Marriage of minors without consent voidable but not void. Prohibition of marriage of persons under certain ages. Proof of age of parties to proposed marriage. Legality of marriages between persons within certain degrees of affinity. Time and place for, and presence of parties and witnesses at, solemnization of marriage. Marriage formula. Certain marriage officers may refuse to solemnize certain marriages. Payments to marriage officers. Blessing of a marriage. PART IV R EGISTRATION OF M ARRIAGES 30. 31. 32. 33. Registrar of Marriages. Register of marriages. Registration of marriages by Registrar. Correction of errors. PART V OFFENCES AND PENALTIES 34. 35. Penalty for failure to comply with section 31. Penalties for solemnizing marriage contrary to this Act and for false representation or statement.