War Marriages Validation Act (Chapter 5:15)
Zimbabwe
War Marriages Validation Act
Chapter 5:15
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Commenced on 18 January 1985
- [This is the version of this document at 31 December 2016 and includes any amendments published up to 31 December 2017.]
- [Note: This version of the Act was revised and consolidated by the Law Development Commission of Zimbabwe]
This Act may be cited as the War Marriages Validation Act [Chapter 5:15]. In this Act—“Minister” means the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs or any other Minister to whom the President may, from time to time, assign the administration of this Act;“Registrar” means the Registrar of Marriages referred to in section 30 of the Marriage Act [Chapter 5:11] or an officer in the Public Service authorized by him to perform his functions in terms of this Act;“war” means the armed conflict that occurred in Zimbabwe and in neighbouring countries between the 11th November, 1965, and the 29th February, 1980, in connection with the bringing about of, or resistance to, political and social change in Zimbabwe;“war marriage” means a marriage, form of marriage or intended marriage which was entered into during the war, either inside or outside Zimbabwe, by a man and a woman who were prevented by circumstances arising as a result of the war from having their marriage, form of marriage or intended marriage regis- tered or recorded by any government or religious authority the country in which it was entered into;“Zimbabwe”, in relation to any circumstances existing, event occurring or thing done before the 18th April, 1980, means the area which on that date was included in the boundaries of Zimbabwe. A war marriage that has been registered in accordance with—(a)subparagraph (i) of subsection (4) of section three, shall for all purposes be valid as if it had been a marriage solemnized and registered within Zimbabwe in terms of the Marriage Act [Chapter 5:11];(b)subparagraph (ii) of subsection (4) of section three, shall for all purposes be valid as if it had been a marriage solemnized and registered within Zimbabwe in terms of the Customary Marriage Act [Chapter 5:06];with effect from the date that is entered in the register concerned as the date on which the war marriage was entered into. Any person who is aggrieved by any decision of the Registrar in terms of section three may appeal against such decision to the Minister, who may confirm the decision of the Registrar or direct him to take such other action in the matter as the Minister considers he ought to have taken, and the Registrar shall comply with such direction and the decision of the Minister shall be final. The Minister may by regulation prescribe anything which in terms of this Act is to be prescribed or which in his opinion is necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act. Nothing contained in this Act shall affect the validity and consequences, if any, of any war marriage that has not been registered in terms of section three, or the right, if any, of the parties to any such war marriage—(a)to marry or remarry; or(b)to have their war marriage registered, recorded or solemnized in terms of any other law.1. Short title
2. Interpretation
3. Registration of war marriages
4. Validity of registered war marriages
5. Appeals against decisions of Registrar
6. Regulations
7. Saving of right