Marriage Laws & Marital Property Regimes: A World Of Difference From One Point Of Departure

Just like any other area of law, the starting point for attorneys is to read the law - and what it says By Advocate Mureriwa and Mr SE Kanyoka Many moons ago, Alexander Pope coined a beautiful piece of literature which states that : “A little learning is a dangerous thing: drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring” The above prose is apt to the manner and approach adopted by many lawyers (and their clients) when dealing with divorces (or administration of deceased estates) involving marriages concluded in Zimbabwe and South Africa. This joint paper seeks to give some basic guideline to the lawyers involved with matrimonial litigation (as well as administration of deceased estates) more particulars where their clients “concluded” customary marriages in Zimbabwe and seek to regulate same through a South African court. Just like any other area of law, the starting point for attorneys is to read the law.