Proposed new divorce law to be tabled in parliament

Minister of justice Yvonne Dausab is expected to table a proposed new law on divorce in parliament on Thursday.

Dausab says the current divorce law is still regulated by outdated legislation, which provides that divorces are only granted on the grounds of adultery, malicious desertion, mental illness or habitual criminal behaviour.

The new act would allow people to get divorced if their marriage has irretrievably broken down.

This is a departure from fault-based grounds, simplifying getting divorced.

Currently, the law only allows for divorce proceedings to take place in the High Court. The proposed law would allow parties to have their divorce proceedings heard in magistrate’s courts.

The passing of the new law would expedite divorce proceedings amid Namibia’s harsh socio-economic conditions.