Thousands of Newlyweds Face Invalid Documents

In a surprising turn of events, thousands of newlyweds in Zimbabwe have discovered that their marriage certificates are invalid due to a clerical error. The issue, which affects certificates issued in the last 18 months, has caused widespread concern among couples who tied the knot during this period.

The Zimbabwe Law Society raised the alarm after noticing that the stationery used for civil marriage certificates still references a chapter from an outdated marriage act that was repealed in 2022. The new act, introduced in September 2022, made significant changes, including enhancing the rights of partners in traditional marriages and outlawing child marriage.

Couples affected by this oversight are advised to take their certificates to a registrar for correction and official stamping. The law society also cautioned that those with invalid certificates would be unable to seek a divorce.

The revelation caught many newlyweds off guard, with several expressing their surprise to the newsrooms. The mix-up has also sparked humorous reactions on social media, with some seeing it as a chance for an easy exit from their marriage.

The Civil Registry Department, speaking to the state-owned paper The Chronicle, stated that while it can amend existing certificates, it cannot issue new ones with the correct legal reference until the government officially announces the change in a gazette.