malvernmugadzikwa
Online Reporter
ZANU PF Senator for Mashonaland West province Cde Prisca Mupfumira has said “small houses” should not benefit from a deceased estate at the expense of the deceased’s spouse.
The Marriages Act (Chapter 5:15), which was promulgated in May 2022 and took effect in August 2022, recognises “civil partnerships”, which are relationships between a man and woman staying together without payment of lobola, and gives property rights to the people involved in them.
Senator Mupfumira however said “small houses” should not benefit from a deceased estate simply for cohabiting.
She said this while contributing to a debate in a motion moved in the Senate by Mashonaland West Senator Bybit Lydia Tsomondo.
“You find that sometimes there are some girlfriends who end up benefitting,” Senator Mupfumira said.
“It might be because the husband was cohabitating with a girlfriend for three months and you find such a woman benefitting…
“Because he died while staying with a small house, she ends up taking everything.”
Some observers have said the introduction of civil partnerships has brought about more challenges in the administration of deceased estates.
Bongani Ndlovu