01 Aug 2019

A total of 4 583 marriages have been solemnised through Reanyalana since its registration, Minister of Nationality, Immigration and gender Affairs, Mr Ngaka Ngaka has said.

Responding to a question in Parliament, Minister Ngaka  said Reanyalana initiated and facilitated the operation of general awareness programs at family and community levels regarding the disadvantages of informal cohabitation practices.

He said the program also promoted and facilitated the sustenance of a state of dignity, confidence and pride among the cohabiting partners who desired to live as married couples.

The minister said it also provided technical support through counselling and other related services for  couples and other family members including but not limited to issues relating to property ownership, adoption of children and particularly the formalities and procedures necessary for legalising the cohabitation.

Regarding the question of how many of the 4 583 marriages solemnised through the program had divorced, the minister said the registration of divorces did not categorise according to who had solemnised the marriage.

Therefore, Mr Ngaka said he could not provide information of such but could provide Parliament with the number of registered divorces which stood at 322 from 2017 to 2018 and his ministry was awaiting the High Court to furnish them with figures for 2019.

The minister further told Parliament that his ministry did not support any registered society financially instead, Reanyalana Group was supported to facilitate marriage process, from publication of Banns to provision of Marriage Officers to solemnise the marriage.

Nkange MP, Mr Edwin Batshu had asked the minister to state when Reanyalana Group was registered, its objectives, number of marriages solemnized,  number of divorces cases registered and  how government supported the group and its endeavours, financially or otherwise. Ends