General
Source: Malawi News Agency
Minister of Gender Children, Disability and Social Welfare, Patricia Kaliati has defended the recently passed Marriage Divorce and Family Bill which provoked debate.
Since the passing of the bill in Parliament, there has been debates in the social media and in the streets, others claiming the bill is too harsh on men while others believe it will bring sanity to marriage.
In an interview with Malawi News Agency, the Minister said people should not look at the bill as attacking a certain group of people but rather see it as a law that will help bring value to marriage.
"There is more to this bill than just what people are concentrating on, the issue of marriage age has been reviewed to 18 years which is a very good development as now we will be assured that the issue of child marriages will be thing of the past," she said.
Kaliati: The bill serves both men and women- File Photo
Kaliati dismisses the fact that the bill attacks men but rather raises issues that apply to both men and women.
"I do not understand what people mean when they said the bill attacks men, it goes both ways. For example if people have been cohabiting and the man has provided everything for the woman and after some time the woman dumps the man for another man the victim has got the right to sue the woman.
"So you see the bill is purely aimed at bringing sanity to marriages and help people to follow the right procedures and justice to prevail to those that have been wronged in the process," explained Kaliati.
She further added that different stakeholders were consulted before it was drafted so that surely means the bill went through all the necessary steps.