Burundi Marriage Order -If you are single and in a relationship in Burundi, you have until December 31st to legalise your relationship with your lover.
The Burundi government which is out to reform morals in the country has given an ultimatum to single citizens who may be engaging in premarital sex to make their relationship legal by marrying each other before this year runs out.
See: Why You Must Know Your Partner’s Genotype Before Considering Marriage
According to the Interior Ministry spokesman, Terence Ntahiraja, the country was facing a population explosion which is mostly as a result of illegal marriages, polygamy, bigamy and “hundreds of schoolgirls getting pregnant”.
He explained that in a country where immorality has prevailed over good values, the Burundi marriage order which entails church and state-sanctioned weddings were the solution and were a patriotic duty.
And so as it stands now the only way to show utmost patriotism and solidarity with the Burundian values as a single person is to marry whoever it is you are dating before the year 2017 runs out.
The government has since been pressuring unwed couples across the country to tie the knot. To enact the Burundi President’s orders, authorities have begun organising mass weddings for unmarried couples in the country especially the poor ones who cannot afford a wedding.
See Also: Best and Stunning Photos from Latest Popular Ghanaian Marriages
In May 2017, Burundi’s President Pierre Nkurunziza signed a new law which the government said will help protect women and create a more moral society.
The government said that a legal document recognising a marriage helps protect women and their children, especially when it comes to issues such as inheritance.
President Nkurunziza and his wife, who are born-again evangelical Christians have been condemned for the order but the government has defended the move claiming it was within the Burundian laws.
A section of Burundians has argued that the new marriage law infringes on people’s religious beliefs, customs and practices.
A civil society activist opposed government’s mass weddings as “a violation of human rights because the state has no right to attack two adults who have decided to live together without being married.”
Why Many Singles Are Yet to Marry
From the general point of view, it has been widely perceived that the reasons why some single couples are yet to be married revolve around the issue of finance.
Nupitals, as have been perceived, are quite on the high side should one decide to attach other frivolities that follow the exchange of vows.
Men now want to attain a certain level of financial freedom before venturing into vow exchange, so as to pull through financial challenges that may come afterwards.
For some, it is emotional unreadiness. Some are not emotionally ready to handle the changes and challenges that come with officializing a relationship.
But be that as it may, the Burundian government’s order still stands and defaulters will be brought to book.
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