Women's Feature Service, April 18th, 2005
Harare, (WFS) - In Zimbabwe, the practice of bride price (lobola) is steeped in tradition. On an apparent level, the man makes payments to the woman's family as part of the marriage process. But in reality, say critics, lobola condemns women to marital enslavement and denies them control over decision-making, marital resources, their children and their own sexuality.
Among the Shona - the majority ethnic group in Zimbabwe, at 82 per cent - lobola practice involves small introductory payments to open negotiations. These payments go to the father's negotiators. Then, there are the major payment...
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