WOMEN MARCH FOR MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE
PIGG’S PEAK – A march to Nsangwini umphakatsi aimed at assisting a woman whose husband married a second wife took another twist.
On Saturday, about 10 women headed to Nsangwini umphakatsi in protest against the man they accused of abandoning his wife and marrying another woman. The women were bitter that despite the couple being married for many years, they did not have a marriage certificate as proof of their union. The women belong to an organisation known as the Swaziland Rural Women Assembly (SRWA).
They were led by Simangele Dlamini, who is also a resident of Nginamadolo. She is the chairperson of the Nginamadolo branch of SRWA, which is an organisation affiliated to Women and Law in Southern Africa (WLSA).
Dlamini said they approached the Nsangwini umphakatsi to assist in a matter in which one of their residents had been allegedly neglected by her husband who went on to marry another woman.
She said the protest aimed to make sure that *Lolo managed to obtain a marriage certificate. Dlamini said the women wondered why the couple did not have a marriage certificate despite that they had been married for at least seven years. “How can he marry another woman and leave her without any document?” wondered Dlamini.
Council
Speaking while at the umphakatsi, Dlamini said their march sought to seek the assistance of the inner council to assist Lolo to acquire a marriage certificate.
Lolo’s mother was also present at the umphakatsi.
When asked about the marriage certificate, she confirmed that her daughter did not have one. However, she said the family had resolved the issue.
Noteworthy is that though SRWA had been protesting in favour of Lolo, she did not attend the march.
Bonginkosi Mdluli, who is the secretary of the inner council at Nsangwini umphakatsi, said they were ready to assist Lolo if she needed a marriage certificate.
Mdluli said under normal circumstances, they encourage that a couple should obtain a marriage certificate within three months of being married.
Lolo is said to have been traditionally married to her husband and this was also confirmed by Mdluli.
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