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The Government of Zimbabwe's White Paper on Marriage and Inheritance, 1993

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2009

Simon Coldham
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Extract

Far from heralding a comprehensive and long-overdue reform of the law relating to marriage and inheritance in Zimbabwe, this White Paper is a modest document, only seven pages long, which largely restricts itself to considering the extent to which the law of intestate succession applicable to a person’s estate should depend on the type of marriage into which the deceased had entered. Even so, the issues raised are controversial and the government clearly wishes to stimulate public debate and to receive suggestions from all quarters before formulating its policy. It appears that the paper has succeeded in generating interest as well as some harsh criticism.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of African Law , Volume 38 , Issue 1 , Spring 1994 , pp. 67 - 69
Copyright
Copyright © School of Oriental and African Studies 1994

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References

1 See Ncube, W., “The White Paper on marriage and inheritance in Zimbabwe: an excuse in superfluity and mischief?” (1993) Legd Forum, 5:4, 10.Google Scholar

2 Qahowa v. Mangwende, S.C. No. 84 of 1987.

3 An Intestate Succession Bill was drafted in 1987 but subsequently shelved.

4 The White Paper was published in both Shona and Ndebele languages.

5 E.g. in Kenya and Zambia. In both these countries it was only after widespread consultation and the publication of detailed reports that legislation was finally introduced.