Newsfront Online …Telling the Public as it is
King Mswati III of Swaziland has issued a decree banning divorce among citizens of the southern African nation.
The Times of Swaziland newspaper quoted King Mswati as issuing the decree at his Easter meeting with local pastors at the Engabezweni Royal Residence, NAN reports.
Quoting the newspaper, Africa Review disclosed that King Mswati told the pastors to educate the people that there was no pulling out once they got married. “In our culture, once you marry someone, there is no turning back,” the Times of Swaziland quoted King Mswati as saying.
The decree is coming at a time when the Swazi Attorney-General Office’s drafted the Marriage Bill of 2017, which contains five grounds for divorce. The existing Marriage Act of 1964 prohibits divorce.
The newspaper quoted King Mswati comparing marriage to a covenant with God, pointing out that it was wrong for people to break agreements made with the latter. The Kingdom of Swaziland in southern Africa is one of the world’s last remaining absolute monarchies. King Mswati is known as “Ngweyama” meaning “The Lion”. This also symbolizes the government and “Coat of Arms”. The “Indlovukazi” meaning “Elephant” depicts The Queen Mother, as a part of this national symbol.
Currently, the King has 15 wives and 24 children. Under Swaziland law, his first two wives are chosen for him by his national councilors. He can only marry his brides once they become pregnant to prove they can produce heirs.
Culled from NAN
