By Own Correspondent- An explosive debate awaits Parliament following the approval by Cabinet of the amendment of the Marriages Act to effectively make it illegal for same sex marriages to be solemnised and recognised in the country.

During a post-Cabinet briefing recently, Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry minister Priscah Mupfumira said the executive had approved the amendment Bill, which among other things seeks to repeal and replace the Customary Marriages Act and merge it with the Marriage Act (Chapter 5:11).

The highlight of the amendment is the prohibition of same sex marriages at a time the gays and lesbians community was looking at government to ensure that they enjoy more rights including legally marrying.

“The objectives of the Bill are … prohibition of same sex marriages and recognition of the supremacy of the Constitution which invalidates, any law practice and custom
and conduct inconsistent with the Constitution,” Mupfumira said.

Zimbabwe, largely a Christian nation, has been against same sex unions, with former President Robert Mugabe gaining political mileage in his Zanu PF party by declaring an open war against the gay community.

He even called them “worse than pigs and dogs”, but the coming in of President Emmerson Mnangagwa had given the gays and lesbians hope that they could be accommodated.-Newsday