WHAT IS A VALID MARRIAGE? THE RIGHTS OF A SPOUSE AND CHILDREN OF AN INFORMAL CUSTOMARY MARRIAGE IN VIEW
A young lady approached me and said: Mr. Lawyer, I have been living with my partner for the past four years? He got me pregnant whiles I was an apprentice with a hairdressing saloon. After the pregnancy, he came to “see” my parents and accepted responsibility. He came with his father who presented a bottle of schnapps to my father. After I gave birth, he came to perform the naming ceremony after which he asked me to move in to live with him. I have supported him to do his business and also build his chamber and hall apartment which we live in now. He now has two shops where he sells hardware. I used to sell at one of the shops, whiles he sells in the other, but he has recently stopped me from going to the other shop. He claims I am spending his money. The Truth is, he doesn’t provide regular money at home, so I usually use some of the sales to buy foodstuff to cook for the three of us. I have discussed with him, that he should help me set up my own hair dressing saloon so I don’t ask h...