Relatives No Longer Welcome At Court Weddings
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has stepped up to the fight against the deadly COVID- 19 by banning wedding guests during court solemnization of marriages at their courthouses across the country to avoid public gatherings.
The statement by JSC comes a day after President Mnangagwa declared COVID-19 a national disaster following indications that the virus is spreading fast in the region.
Acting chief magistrate Munamato Mutevedzi, in a statement, said JSC was significantly worried about the thousands of people who visit Harare Magistrates’ Court on a daily basis and on that background, the entity had taken drastic measures to reduce the number of marriages to a maximum of 10 per day.
On a usual day, 30 to 40 marriages are solemnized each day and weddings, by their nature, attract crowds. In addition to that, the JSC now only allows the couple and their witnesses into the venue.
Relatives and wedding guests will not be permitted entry. JSC said the directive was with immediate effect. Mutevedzi further said that with the guidance of the JSC secretary, Walter Chikwanha, and consultation with other stakeholders, the JSC is exploring the feasibility of other available courses of action to decongest court-houses and the public will be made aware of such measures.
