Men To Have More Responsibility Over Out-of-wedlock Babies
The government is in the process of amending the Guardianship of Minors Act after the Cabinet this week passed principles that will guide the drafting of a Bill.
The amendments will reportedly give men and woman co-guardianship of children born out of wedlock.
Under the current law, only the mothers have guardianship to children born out of wedlock.
A Harare lawyer and gender activist, Jessie Majome, revealed her excitement over the proposed changes. She said:
This is an exciting development and to all men with children outside wedlock, you must shape up and rise to the responsibilities of a guardian.
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It means fathers, not married to their children’s mothers, will also be equal guardians.
If the Bill is passed into law, fathers who are ordinarily absent will be expected to perform other duties like taking leave days to nurse the sick children, the same way mothers do.
Harare lawyer, Wellington Pasipanodya of Manase & Manase Legal Practitioners said that the current law is oppressive to single mothers. Said Pasipanodya:
The law as it stands is oppressive to single mothers. Absent fathers have caused so much emotional suffering due to their insensitivity when it comes to the welfare of their fathered children.
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More: The Herald
