In recent discussions in the National Council concerning the Marriage Bill, there has been a notable push to make premarital counselling a compulsory requirement for all engaged couples.
The proposed Marriage Bill aims to regulate marriages and validate certain unions.
Swapo Party MP Richard Gaoseb, in his contribution, expressed disappointment that the bill under review does not include a provision for mandatory counselling.
Gaoseb urges that incorporating mandatory counselling into marriage laws could significantly reduce divorce rates by ensuring that couples are fully prepared for the long-term commitment of marriage.
"Despite the difference in ages when getting married, either young or older, in the clause I was reading through the bill, I was wondering why counselling is not included in this bill and make it compulsory for all spouses. With this being included in the bill, it will help us reduce divorce cases. I hope to see in this bill that all spouses must undergo counselling in order to understand and be aware of the step they are taking, which is a long-term decision."
A different issue emerged concerning misconceptions about Pentecostal practices and youth marriages.
Landless People's Movement (LPM) MP Harald Kambrude addressed recent claims that Pentecostal churches promote early marriages without parental consent, asserting that such claims are unfounded.
Kambrude emphasised that Pentecostal churches do not endorse marriages without parental consent.
Instead, he said, they advocate for young people to avoid living together outside of marriage.
"It is portrayed that Pentecostal churches allow young people to marry, sometimes without the consent of their parents. I totally disagree because I myself congregate in a Pentecostal church. Allowing children to marry is not a Pentecostal issue; it's unfair because it's a practice that's countrywide because in some cultures they allow this to happen, including the Lutheran and Catholic churches. Let us not become abusive towards specific churches. We do not allow young people to marry without their consent or parents' consent; all we advocate for is young people to not live in sin, and it's better to marry instead of this "saam lewe," staying together as a couple and not married."