(2) If a religious denomination or organization in such circumstances as are contemplated in subse ction (1) changes the name whereby it was known or amalgamates with any other religious denomination or organization, it shall immediately inform the Minister thereof. 7 Revocation of designation as marriage officer (1) The Minister may, on the ground of misconduct or for any other good cause, and where possible after consultation with the authority governing the religious denomination or organization concerned, revoke in writing the designation of any person as a marriage officer. (2) Where a minister of religion severs his connection with any religious denomination or organization in respect of which he was appointed a marriage officer, he shall forthwith cease to be a marriage officer. PART III S OLEMNIZATION OF M ARRIAGE 8 Unauthorized solemnization of marriage ceremonies forbidden (1) A marriage may be solemnized by a marriage officer only. (2) Any person, not being a marriage officer, who purports to solemnize a marriage shall be guilty of an o ffence and liable to a fine not exceeding level seven or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years or to both such fine and such imprisonment. [Subsection as amended by section 4 of Act 22 of 2001] 9 Publication of banns or notice of intention to marry or issue of marriage licence before marriage (1) Subject to subsection (2), no marriage officer shall solemnize any marriage unless in respect thereof and in terms of this Act or a prior law— (a) each of the parties has caused banns of marriage to be published; or (b) each of the parties has caused a notice of intention to marry to be published; or (c) one of the parties has caused banns of marriage to be published and other has caused a notice of intention to marry to be published; or (d) a marriage licence has been issued. (2) A party to a proposed marriage within Zimbabwe may, if the law of the country in which he is ordinarily resident does not require the publication of banns of marriage or of notice of intention to marry, lodge with the marriage officer concerned a certificate issued by an appropriate authority in that country to the effect that there is no impediment to the proposed marriage, and such certificate shall be accepted by the marriage officer in lieu of a certificate or notice of intention to marry if the marriage officer is satisfied that publication of such banns or notice of intention is not required by the laws of that country. 10 Application for publication and acceptance of banns (1) Any party who desires to cause banns of marriage to be published shall deliver or cause to be delivered to any minister of religion at least two days prior to the intended publication or at any time prior to such publication, which such minister of religion may in his discretion allow, a written application to publish such banns: Provided that no such application to publish such banns shall be accepted by a minister of religion unless the party concerned has resided in the area in which such minister of religion holds office for a period of at least fourteen days immediately preceding the date of the receipt of such application. (2) An application referred to in subsection (1) shall— (a) state the full names, age, condition and residential address of each of the parties; and (b) bear the signature of each of the parties and be dated by either of them. (3) Nothing in this Act contained shall be construed as compelling any minister of religion to accept and publish any banns of marriage. 11 How publication of banns of marriage to be made (1) Any minister of religion or any person authorized by the authority governing the religious denomination or organization concerned may publish banns of marriage. (2) Such banns of marriage shall specify the full names and residential address of each of the persons to be married and publication thereof shall, subject to subsection (3), be made either— (a) in an audible manner, some time during public divine service, on three Sundays preceding the solemnization of the marriage, in the face of the congregation before whom such minister of religion or other authorized person officiates; or (b) by posting the banns, for an unbroken period covering three successive Sundays preceding the solemnization of the marriage, in a conspicuous place in or in the immediate vicinity of the ordinary place of worship of the congregation concerned. (3) If the principal public divine service of a denomination or organization is held weekly on a day other than a Sunday, publication of banns in terms of paragraph (a) of subsection (2) may be made during such a service on such day instead of on a Sunday.