By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Open Parly ZWOpen Parly ZWOpen Parly ZW
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
  • Home
  • News
  • Bills
  • Bill Tracker
  • Cabinet Briefs
  • Videos & LIVE Streams
  • Find your MP
  • Open Council
  • About
Reading: Draft Marriage Bill is discriminatory: GALZ
Share
Font ResizerAa
Open Parly ZWOpen Parly ZW
Search
  • Home
  • News
  • Bills
  • Bill Tracker
  • Cabinet Briefs
  • Videos & LIVE Streams
  • Find your MP
  • Open Council
  • About
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
Open Parly ZW > Acts > Draft Marriage Bill is discriminatory: GALZ
Draft Marriage Bill is discriminatory: GALZ
ActsBillsNews

Draft Marriage Bill is discriminatory: GALZ

Daniel Chigundu
Last updated: February 16, 2023 10:10 am
Daniel Chigundu Published July 22, 2019
Share
Draft Marriage Bill is discriminatory: GALZ
SHARE

By Daniel Chigundu

GALZ, an association that represents the interests of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgender, and Intersex (LGBTI) people in Zimbabwe says the current proposed Draft Marriage Bill is discriminatory to people of different sexual orientations.

Zimbabwe is in the process of crafting a consolidated marriage law that will harmonise the current Customary Marriages Act [Chapter 5:07] and the Marriages Act [Chapter 5:11] into one Act of Parliament governing marriages in the country.

GALZ director Chesterfield Samba said even though most LGBTI groups in Zimbabwe have never campaigned for marriage, the proposed Bill is not inclusive enough to pass the test of what is expected in a democratic society.

“Unfortunately, the Bill continues to sideline other citizens like us who may want to establish long committed relationships and share a life together. It is thus not inclusive and may be viewed as discriminatory.

“A new democratic Zimbabwe requires a new way of doing things, which does not repeat the intolerance and discriminatory politics of the past.

“We appeal to lawmakers to encourage a culture of tolerance towards those of a different political persuasion or sexual orientation,” he said.

Samba added that “respect for the new Constitution requires that the past laws and policies of intolerance and discrimination against unpopular groups, including the LGBTI community, should be abandoned”.

The issue of LGBTI people is very topical in Zimbabwe as they are mostly judged negatively, especially from a religious point of view.

Former President Robert Mugabe was in the habit of verbally attacking them on every other platform both locally and internationally.

However, in a bid to make their issues known, GALZ said it has begun a sensitisation program for Parliamentarians and has also been submitting its proposals and contributions to various Bills such as the Education Bill which is currently before Parliament.

The GALZ director said although they have made their submissions to the Education Bill the challenge is that it is up to the Bill drafters to consider them or not.

“We made submissions towards the Education bill, with submissions, you make them and it’s up to the drafters to consider public submissions,” he said.

GALZ which was formed in 1990 is of the view that stigma, denial, and discrimination of LGBTI persons have hampered most LGBTI students from acquiring an education and accessing educational material, conducting research, and at times completing their education.

The organisation believes that inclusive education is a rights-based approach to education that appreciates diversity among learners and their unique educational needs.

“Inclusive education centres its efforts on children who are vulnerable and prone to exclusion and marginalisation.

“The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in Zimbabwe conducted a study in 2015 and reported that over 1.2 million children are out of school, we would like to believe that a section of these are LGBTI learners who for various reasons are out of school,” said GALZ in its proposals to the Education Bill.

Among some of its proposals in the Education Bill, GAZL highlighted the silence of the bill in regard to discrimination and exclusion on the grounds of “sexual orientation and gender identity”.

They also proposed the development of an Inclusive Education Policy that will address efforts towards improved outcomes for gender-diverse learners through providing guidance and support frameworks that enable the implementation of inclusive education in Zimbabwe that ensures that all learners remain in school including Trans and Intersex persons.

While Zimbabwe has for a long time maintained a hard-line stance against LGBTI issues, other countries in Africa are slowly becoming tolerant and relaxing their previously exclusive policies and laws. The Supreme Court of Botswana just recently set the tone for the acceptance and recognition of LGBTI people in their country.–

You Might Also Like

Parliamentary Report on ZISCO Steel Pensioners’ Petition

We want option to choose between LEADED and UNLEADED fuel

Parliament Resumes, But Impeachment Motion Still Absent

Cabinet approves principles of the Climate Change Management Bill

How To Petition Parliament In Zimbabwe

TAGGED:Chesterfield SambaDraft Marriage Bill is discriminatory: GALZGALZLGBTQI
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Email Print

Follow US

Find US on Social Medias
FacebookLike
TwitterFollow
YoutubeSubscribe
Trending News
Zimbabwe allows testing for both manual and automatic drivers licences
FeatureFeaturedMembers of ParliamentNewsParliament

Zimbabwe allows testing for both manual and automatic drivers licences

Daniel Chigundu Daniel Chigundu March 19, 2025
Blessed Geza Moves to Impeach Emmerson Mnangagwa
Geza Faces Setback in Impeachment Bid as Parliament Adjourns to May 6
Parliament Debates A Law that will force motorists to buy ZBC radio licences
Express lanes for exempted Govt officials and MPs at tollgates

Categories

  • ES Money
  • U.K News
  • The Escapist
  • Insider
  • Science
  • Technology
  • LifeStyle
  • Marketing

About US

We influence 20 million users and is the number one business and technology news network on the planet.

Subscribe US

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

[mc4wp_form]

OpenParlyZW is a project of Magamba Network established in 2015 that seeks to open the Parliament of Zimbabwe using digital tools and civic tech to promote and enable engagement between decision-makers & Citizens for a better society for young Zimbabweans

FacebookLike
TwitterFollow
YoutubeSubscribe

Categories

  • ES Money
  • U.K News
  • The Escapist
  • Insider
  • Science
  • Technology
  • LifeStyle
  • Marketing

About US

We influence 20 million users and is the number one business and technology news network on the planet.

Subscribe US

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

[mc4wp_form]

OpenParlyZW is a project of Magamba Network established in 2015 that seeks to open the Parliament of Zimbabwe using digital tools and civic tech to promote and enable engagement between decision-makers & Citizens for a better society for young Zimbabweans

FacebookLike
TwitterFollow
YoutubeSubscribe
© 2024 Openparly. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?