A Zimbabwean woman goes to court to end taking of bride price

diamond hope

November 27, 2017 12:45 PM

Is taking bride price still fashionable in this era?

Priccilar Vengesai, a lawyer, has filed an application at the Constitutional Court of Zimbabwe to end the practice of bride price collection. She argued that the practice is unconstitutional and degrading for women.

Bride price collection has been existent norms in the tradition of African’s for many years, and it has come to be an integral part of wedding procedure. However, Priccilar Vengesai says she wants the practice to be abolished.

As an alternative, she wants parents of both the bride and the groom to be thanked for raising their children properly. Also, instead of only the groom's family paying, both families should pay a price to each other as a show of appreciation for proper upbringing of their children and gender equality.

To Vengesai, the bride price as being paid simply means the man is acquiring the woman. This is , thus, a discrimination based on gender and sex.

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Priccilar Vengesai is a former civil servant, and was once married. She had felt like she was purchased and vowed to walk down the aisle again if the case is won and bride price is stopped.

Currently, the case is awaiting the approval of a Chief Justice so that it can proceed to trial in a Constitutional Court. If approved, Vengesai may possibly be the beginning of African women calling for the abolishing of bride price payment in their countries.

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